DIBRUGARH, June 30 � Higher education is gradually becoming expensive. Pay Rs 60, 000 and undergo course for the first semester in Engineering and Technology, deposit Rs 39,150 as admission fee to undergo course in M.Sc. in Bio-Technology, Rs 32,150 for admission into first semester of MBA course and so on. Higher education in the Dibrugarh Univeristy has become accessible only to the economically well off.
A student can attain the degree in Engineering and Technology only if he or she is capable of paying Rs 4,40,000 for the entire course. Further, a student can pursue course in MCA by paying Rs 28,150 for admission into the first semester. The admission fees to the first semester of M.Sc in Bio-Technology has been hiked from Rs 28,150 in 2009 to Rs 39,150 in 2010. Last year, the course fees for Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication was Rs 13,600 only but for the current year the course fees is Rs 17,150. Simialrly fees for admission to first semester MBA course was only Rs 25,000. The fee structures of various courses in the varsity including M.Phil and Ph.D in the similar manner have been hiked. Besides, a student has to make payments at various stages as examination and test fees to finally attain the degree.
For majority of the students coming from lower-middle class families, higher education becomes a distant dream. �When vast majority of the population still depends on agriculture and wages for survival, such hike in the fees of various courses is certain to criple the ambitions of lakhs of poor students,� leaders of the Post Graduate Students� Union (PGSU) of Dibrugarh University said. In a press meet organised at PGSU office, Arindam Buragohain, general secretary, PGSU told media persons that the fees structures in the current form is not at all acceptable.
Asked if the students� body took up the matter with the University authorities, the general secretary said: � When we met the Vice Chancellor, we were told that higher education was not meant for poor students.� The delegation of the students� body who met the Vice Chancellor were also told that the University was not receiving enough funds from the government and therefore fees had to be increased. The PGSU delegation which also included Kaustavi Nath, President in charge and Gaurav Dutta, Assistant General Secretary told media persons. � Extracting high fees from poor students and running the affairs of the University is unjustified,� the students leaders said and informed that they would resort to agitation after holding meetings with the local student organisations of various communities including the AASU. They have demanded that education should be made easily accessible.
�If there is not enough funds, why is the University spending Rs 10 to 12 crore to build a park inside the DU campus,� the students� body further questioned. Money should be utilised for education related infrastructures like laboratories for departments who need it. �Why should students from one department go to use the laboratories of other departments,�, the general secretary asked. It has been reported that students of B.Sc IT go to Centre for Media Studies and students of B.Pharm walk over to the Chemistry Department to use laboratory for practical purposes. Moreover, the students also alleged that various faculties and administrators of the University were acting as Directors of various centres within the University and earning double salaries. Some teachers even draw additional salaries by teaching in two different departments, the students said.
