Non-resident Indian students can now enrol with private colleges offering professional courses in Andhra Pradesh. In a recent circular, the state government restored a previous order allowing 15 per cent quota for NRI students who could pay their course fees in dollars.
The technical education institutions offering courses in engineering, pharmacy and planning & architecture charge an annual fee of about $5,000 (Rs 2,32,500).
The quota – that was in effect in the early 90s – was discontinued because there were not enough NRI students who would opt for admissions to these private institutes. “The fee collected from NRI students should be used for improving the infrastructure of the colleges,” MD Christopher, secretary, Andhra Pradesh told Business Standard.
This move will bring in force a new three-tier fee structure for private unaided professional colleges in the state. The existing structure had a two-tier system of convenor (merit-based categories) and management quota. Under the present norms, a government-appointed convenor is entrusted with filling 70 per cent of the seats (convenor quota) in a college at Rs 31,000 per student. For the remaining 30 per cent seats the course fee is Rs 95,000 per student (management quota).
The differential fee structure is to allow colleges cross subsidise the cost of education. The fees for both the convenor quota and management quota have been increased this year by Rs 800 and Rs 3,000 respectively.
With the introduction of the three-tier structure, effective this year, the 30 per cent management quota has been spilt into two categories — 15 per cent management quota and 15 per cent reservation for NRI students. The proposed fee structure will be valid for three academic years till 2012-13, but is subject to inflationary adjustments every year.
Admissions to colleges for the general category of students are merit-based and takes into account the performance in the common entrance test (Eamcet). Results in class XII or intermediate examinations carry 25 per cent weightage.
However, students opting for the NRI quota need not appear for the state-conducted common entrance test and can seek admission through the US-based SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or other equivalent testing platforms established by the respective colleges or universities.
The Admissions and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC), a body formed to oversee the matters relating to fees in private, unaided professional colleges, had recently recommended changes to the fee structure to allow the colleges to collect fees in dollars. There have been representations from various college managements to increase the fee in both the convenor and management seats.
The state government resisted the move for a blanket increase in the fees, but allowed the colleges to charge 2.5 times more from NRI students.
The institutions cannot charge a capitation fee or unauthorised amount, either directly or indirectly, other than the amount fixed by AFRC. The surplus profit that is generated from the collection of fees must be used for the benefit of the institution and cannot be diverted for other purposes or for personal gain, said AFRC member secretary CR Biswal in his letter to the government.
Universities would monitor how the affiliated colleges spend the amount from the NRI category. Andhra Pradesh has 708 engineering colleges, offering over 260,000 seats. Almost a similar number of students take the entrance test.
Last year, about 15,000 engineering seats could not be filled. This year, the number is likely to go up to 25,000 following the increase in the number of seats, according to officials.
However, not all colleges are hopeful of filling the NRI quota. According to Rajeshwar Rao, a representative of Rural Engineering Colleges Association, the new norm would benefit only a handful of colleges.
