Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister, K. Ponmudy, announced on Sunday that there will be no increase in semester fees for the current academic year at Anna University and its affiliated colleges. This decision comes as a relief to students and parents who had expressed concerns over the potential financial burden.
Minister Ponmudy clarified that the existing semester fees would remain unchanged until the university’s syndicate committee holds a meeting to discuss the matter further. “As the fee hike will not be implemented, the old semester fees will only be charged,” he stated during a press conference at Anna University.
The minister revealed that the cancellation of the planned fee increase was prompted by requests from students. Earlier, a group of first-year students had approached the minister, submitting a letter urging the reduction of semester fees. They highlighted the financial difficulties faced by their parents, particularly those from rural areas, in paying the current fees.
The minister acknowledged that it has been customary for engineering colleges to increase fees by ₹100 to ₹200. However, in response to the students’ appeals, the decision was made to maintain the current fee structure.
In 2023, Anna University’s syndicate had announced a hike in semester examination fees, but the decision was later revoked following widespread student requests. Minister Ponmudy further assured that there would be no increase in semester examination fees for this academic year and the upcoming academic year as well. He added that a circular would soon be issued by Anna University outlining the exact semester examination fees to be charged by autonomous colleges.
On another note, Minister Ponmudy addressed the ongoing “ghost faculty” issue, where some colleges have been accused of listing non-existent faculty members to meet regulatory requirements. He assured that strict action would be taken against any colleges involved in such malpractices to ensure that students’ education is not compromised.
The minister’s announcements have been welcomed by the student community, offering them some respite amidst the rising costs of higher education.