Over Rs. 1400 Cr. For Engg. Fee Reimbursement

The state government will be spending about Rs. 1,447.09 crores during the financial year 2012-13 towards fee reimbursement for various courses in engineering colleges in the state.

This was disclosed by Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha on Saturday while replying to a question raised by TDP MLA M Narasimhulu and others during the Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly. He said that based on the Supreme Court's directions, the Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC) has recommended an increase in the fee structure of various private un-aided engineering colleges in the state. He also denied reports that a majority of engineering and other colleges were lacking standards and surviving due to the fee reimbursement scheme. However, he said that some of the colleges were lacking in the prescribed infrastructure and faculty as per the All India Council for Technical Education's (AICTE) norms.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that to improve the quality and to implement the AICTE's norms, the state government has constituted a task force to inspect all the said colleges, after amending the Jawarharlal Nehru Technological University Act - 2008 and AP Education Act - 1982. (INN)