Notice to TN private Engineering colleges on fee structure

Chennai, Dec 26 (UNI) The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued notices to 33 Self-financing Engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu for allegedly collecting exorbitant fees.

This followed a report sent by the Tamil Nadu Government to the National Body on the exorbitant fees being collected, after conducting surprise raids in these institutions, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

He said ''we have conducted raids and found that 33 colleges have been collecting higher fees above what is prescribed by the government. We had sent a report to the AICTE, which has issued the notice based on the report'', he added.

''It was for the AICTE to deal with the issue'', he said and added that students studying in these 33 colleges would not be affected if the AICTE initiated any action against these institutions.

Mr Ponmudy said orientation programme for the fresh batch of 975 lecturers, appointed by the Government, began today. Various aspects of training including teaching methodology and improving the communication skills would be covered during the month-long training, during which they would be paid salaries.

He said the Government would appoint 1062 lecturers in the next batch. After issuing appointment orders to them, they would also be covered under the orientation programme.

UNI