Submit info of fee-relaxation given to students during pandemic: Director to varsities
Amid the pandemic, the then state government had announced several relaxations, including fee-waivers and discounts in fees and more.
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The list of relaxations also included complete fee-waiver for the entire course to students who lost parents during the pandemic. All universities in the state have been asked to submit data of the fee-relaxations offered to students for the academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22 as directed by the state government during Covid-19 pandemic considering financial uncertainty faced by many. The director of higher education, Maharashtra has written to Vice Chancellors of all non-agricultural universities regarding this.
Amid the pandemic, the then state government had announced several relaxations, including fee-waivers and discounts in fees and more. “However, as normalcy resumed, there were representations from across the state informing that some colleges and universities denied such financial relaxations. Thereupon, letters have been issued to check the status of how many students actually benefited from the schemes,” said Dr Shailendra Deolankar, Director Higher Education, Maharashtra, who has issued the letter to Vice Chancellors of all universities.
Among several fee-relaxations announced during the pandemic were– fee waived for co-curricular activities as no event was held; 50 per cent reduction in lab and library fees as colleges were closed; adjusting exam-fee and allowing fees to be paid in 3-4 installments for all students without denying them a chance to appear for exams due to delayed payment. The list of relaxations also included complete fee-waiver for the entire course to students who lost parents during the pandemic.
Dr Deolankar explained that as per the declaration, this fee-waiver was for the entire course. “For example, if a student was in the first year of BA at that time; fees of all three years of his/her graduation should have to be waived off. But it seems some institutes asked such students to pay up in the later years of the course. After the ministry received such information from across the state, it has asked tthe institutions to verify whether universities and affiliated colleges offered the benefits announced by the government.
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