20% fee hike in MBA programme worries students

Hike in the fee of MBA programme at Panjab University Regional Centre (PURC) has left the students worried, as the increase is almost Rs 16,000 per semester.

Some of the students have even taken education loans and the fee hike is bothering them. Not only this, but the students have also been asked to pay the fee for the first semester (that began in July) as per the hike.

There are 19 students in MBA first year at the PURC. Students have also given representation to the PU syndicate and senate members that most of the students belonged to middle-class families and the increase in fee would burn a bigger hole in the pockets of their parents. Moreover, it could lead to students leaving the course in between, which would spoil their career.

An MBA first year student, Simranpreet Singh, said, "The hike in fee structure is not justified as the first semester is about to end and the exams will start from November 22. Students have been asked to submit the increased amount of the fee as well as the fee for the second semester (that will start in December) by November 22. Every student is being forced to pay Rs 16,000 more for the first semester, which is not right."

Another student, Kanchan Saini from Kangra, said, "My parents have already spent all their savings to pay first semester's fee and now I was planning to take education loan to pay second semester's fee. But with the hike in fee by Panjab University, I am worried that whether I will be able to continue with this course or not. My father is into a private job and mother is a housewife, so it will be very difficult for my parents to pay the fee."

Shahbaaz Singh Gill, an MBA student from Chandigarh, said, "The authorities have increased the fee by 20%, which is not justified. Several students have even taken education loans and it will become difficult for them to pursue with the course. Moreover, when I approached the bank to make changes in the loan amount, the bank authorities refused to change it and asked me to bear the extra amount of the fee on my own."

Meanwhile, PU regional centre director Hardiljit Singh Gosal, said, "The hike is not justified and I have sent a representation to the PU vice-chancellor to look into the matter. Further, students have also sent a representation the senate and syndicate members and we are expecting that the issue will be taken up in the coming syndicate meeting."

PU syndicate and senate member Harpreet Singh Dua, said, "Several students have given me the representation and I will take up the issue in the coming syndicate meeting."

Fee structure
Earlier, the fee was Rs 81,000 per semester and after the hike, students will have to pay Rs 97,000 per semester.