OPS demands immediate withdrawal of exam fees hike in Bharathidasan University

CHENNAI: AIADMK coordinator and former chief minister O Panneerselvam on Sunday urged the DMK government for taking immediate steps not to hike exam fees for students studying in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

"With already, the promise which was made with regard to the waiving of educational loan has not been fulfilled, increasing exam fees is like piercing spear in the wounds", the AIADMK leader said in a statement.

Panneerselvam's statement came against the backdrop of reports that Bharathidasan University has allowed its affiliated college to increase the exam fees. "In addition, for certain college expenses, the GST has been imposed", he said.

Pointing out that due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation prevailed, many parents were financially affected, he said "as the normalcy was slightly restored just now, they have started earning and it will take at least one or two years to get settled".

"At this point in time, increasing the exam fees in 147 affiliated colleges under Bharathidasan University, where students from the economically poor backgrounds were studying, is highly condemnable", he added.

The deputy opposition leader of the House also stated that students from various colleges, which were affiliated with Bharathidasan University, have staged protest demonstrations. "Despite several protests, the government has not taken any steps to fulfill their demands", he said.

Panneerselvam said the increase in the exam fees at Bharathidasan University has also created fear among poor students studying at other universities whether their exam fees might also get hiked.

"Parents were also expecting that the government should not only withdraw the exam fees hike in Bharathidasan University but also anticipating that there should not be any announcement to hike exam fees in other universities", he claimed.

"Therefore, taking into consideration of the economically poor background of the students and looking at the vulnerability due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the chief minister should take immediate measures not only to roll back the exam fees hike in Bharathidasan University but ensure that the exam fees were also not increased in other universities", he said.