Dr RS Praveen Kumar, a former civil servant and prominent advocate for social justice, has raised the alarm over the exploitation of impoverished students due to additional fees imposed on polytechnic courses. In a recent tweet, Kumar voiced his concerns about how these additional charges burden students from low-income backgrounds.
Kumar, known for his significant contributions to social justice and education during his tenure as the secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society and Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society, accused education department officials of failing to address the issue. He alleged that private college management exploits poor students by citing high court judgments to justify exorbitant fees.
Despite the gravity of his claims, there is currently no further detailed information about the specific circumstances or examples cited in Kumar's tweet. His comments highlight a broader issue of financial barriers in education and underscore the need for regulatory oversight to protect vulnerable students from economic exploitation.
A Times of India report he shared says that polytechnic colleges in Hyderabad are facing backlash for charging additional fees beyond the prescribed amount, with several institutions demanding an extra ₹30,000 per year on top of the official ₹15,000 fee. This move has sparked significant concern among students and parents, especially those eligible for full-fee reimbursement.
The controversy centres around claims by college management that the additional charges are justified by a court order to maintain the quality of education. However, this justification has been met with scepticism from many quarters. The secretary of the board of technical education has stated that no institution is authorized to collect more than the government-prescribed fee without explicit government orders.
Parents and students have voiced their frustration, pointing out that the additional fees impose an undue financial burden, particularly on those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who should benefit from fee reimbursement schemes. This situation has led to confusion and uncertainty about the future fee structures in these institutions.
The debate highlights ongoing issues related to the transparency and regulation of fees in private educational institutions. Despite the criticism, authorities have yet to take decisive action against the colleges involved. The lack of clarity on whether these extra fees will be permanently enforced has left many students and parents anxious about the potential impact on their education expenses.
As the controversy unfolds, there is a growing call for stricter oversight and regulatory measures to ensure that educational institutions adhere to prescribed fee structures and do not exploit students and their families.