No hike in nursing course fees: Karnataka minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil

BENGALURU: The department of medical education has rejected demands from nursing college managements to hike fees by 20%, even while Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, minister for medical education, suggested private colleges part with 40% of their seats under govt quota.
Patil, who chaired a meeting with members of nursing college managements and medical education department officials at Vikasa Soudha on Thursday, said the decision not to hike fees was taken with the aim of safeguarding the interests of students.
The fee under govt quota is Rs 10,000 while it is Rs 1 lakh under management quota and Rs 1.4 lakh for a non-Karnataka student.
Patil said: “If managements provide 40% of seats under govt quota, it will greatly help poor students.” There currently are 35,000 seats in 611 nursing colleges. Currently, managements fill 80% while 20% falls under govt quota.
The minister also instructed officials to inspect and seal nursing colleges that have failed to provide basic infrastructure facilities to students even after availing all facilities from the govt.
“Barring few, most colleges lack basic facilities such as adequate teaching and nonteaching staff, a library and laboratory,” he said. “Besides, many suffer from a lack of hygiene and other issues. They collect huge fees from students during admission but fail to provide these facilities.”
He directed officials to visit colleges before the admission process begins and check if they adhere to govt rules and regulations. He asked officials to take strict action against those flouting norms.