Authorities of some top colleges in the capital are charging excessive fees from the admission seekers, defying the government's directives, students and guardians alleged.
They said some colleges in the metropolitan areas have hung notices seeking admission fees much higher than that of the government fixed amount.
A visit to some secondary level colleges revealed Monday that students and their guardians were seen unhappy over the higher charges. However, they had no option but paying the additional fees due to their limited scope for getting admission to a reputed college.
Mostafa Kamal, a guardian of an admission seeker, said Dhaka City College (DCC) charges Tk 19,992 for science group students, and Tk 18,392 for commerce and humanities groups.
"Definitely, the amount is very high and burden for us, but we are bound to pay the additional fees as getting chance for admission to a reputed college is also a matter of fortune now-a-days", he commented.
According to the official notice, the DCC charges include admission fee Tk 2,400, session fee Tk 12,100, information and communication technology (ICT) Tk 2,500, salary (June) Tk 1,200 and laboratory fee Tk 200, registration Tk 192 and practical task Tk 600.
Like the DCC, Holy Cross College, another reputed college in the capital is also charging higher amount from the government fixed amount.
Jannatul Ferdous Shurovi, who got chance at the college, said this institution has fixed Tk 16,000 as admission fees for the science group students, and Tk 15,600 for business studies and humanities group students.
Meanwhile, according to the government's guidelines the colleges under the monthly payment order (MPO) and located in the metropolitan areas cannot take more than Tk 5000, partially MPO listed colleges won't charge more than Tk 9000 for the Bangla medium and Tk 10, 000 for English medium including session fees.
Obhibabak Oikya Forum, a platform of the students' guardians, president Ziaul Haque Dulu said some other guardians also have brought to their notice the increased admission fees of the secondary level colleges.
He blamed the government for non-compliances of the rules and regulations by the college authorities.
"The government only formulates the policy, but do not take measures regarding enforcement of the rules and policies resulting in immense harassment of students and guardians", the guardian leader said.
When contacted the colleges including the DCC authorities repeatedly denied to make any comment over the increased admission fees, showing various excuses.
Dhaka Board Chairman Prof Taslima Begum told the FE that they heard about the increased fees, but nobody filed written complaint with the education board yet.
"We will take tougher action, if anybody files written application about the increased admission fees to the respective board", the chairman said adding that they are sincerely looking into the issue.
She said the board will take tougher actions including cancellation of the college approval, if the authorities find any college violating the admission guidelines.
"Besides, the issued guidelines also contain necessary instructions regarding the possible punishment for the regulations violators", the chairman noted.
Education Board on Sunday published the admission results of the college admission seekers across the country, and the secondary level college and its equivalent institutions started final admission of students from Monday.
This year, about 1,426,923 students appeared in the country's secondary level public examinations. Of them, 1,303,331 came out successful with a record pass rate of 91.34 per cent. The number of highest grade point holders also went up by 51,050 as this year about 142,276 students achieved the uppermost marks.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
