The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : M.Pharm: confusion over fees in self-financing colleges

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Thursday, Jul 23, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

M.Pharm: confusion over fees in self-financing colleges

Ramya Kannan

Selection committee unaware of the details

Students fear in absence of written guarantee, colleges will overcharge
Last year, the fees fixed for self-financing colleges was Rs.45,000

CHENNAI: Counselling for M. Pharm seats was conducted, after a delay, on Wednesday, but confusion prevailed over the fee structure in self-financing colleges.

“I have been allotted a seat in a private college, but have not been told what the fee is,” complained P. Balaji. “When we asked at the counselling centre, we were told to check at the college. When we contacted the college, they asked us to come and discuss it in person.”

He is worried that in the absence of a written guarantee on the maximum fees that can be levied, the college would overcharge students.

“We are afraid the private colleges will charge us huge amounts,” Arivazhagan, another successful candidate, said. He said it was the duty of the government to provide information on the fee structure for government quota seats in private self-financing colleges along with the admission letter.

A total of 181 seats are available for M. Pharm courses through the government quota in private self-financing colleges, students said.

When contacted, selection committee secretary Sheela Grace said though they were required to provide information about fees, they were unable to do so this time, as they themselves were unaware of the details.

Director of Medical Education S. Vinayagam said that the usual procedure was for the consortium of private colleges to suggest a particular fee structure to the government, which would forward it to the Balasubramaniam Committee constituted to suggest the fee structure for private medical colleges. However, no information had been received this year.

Since the committee had recommended that the same fee structure as last year be followed for MBBS and BDS courses this year, it was likely that it applied to M.Pharm also, he said.

Last year, the fees fixed for M.Pharm course in self-financing colleges was Rs.45,000.

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