Students Protest Against Fee-Hike: Sreenarayanguru Open University Responds

The students of Kerala’s Sreenarayanaguru Open University have been protesting demanding an immediate withdrawal of the increased amount of semester registration fees.

When Timeline contacted the university, responding to the student queries, an official said “the additional Rs 500 was collected for the student welfare fund. In this Rs 200 is assigned for arts and sports activities.”

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The university official also clarified that since the university has decided to conduct Kalolsavam and Sports meet regularly every year, this amount will be collected from students once they join the course, and added that the amount has to be paid once and not in each year just like other universities.

“A sports meet is scheduled to be held in this December,” they said.

The University has decided to build houses for one student from each district from this year onwards and hence the university officials have decided to collect an amount of Rs 300 from each student every year.

According to the official, the university has plans to expand the programme and provide houses to the needful students.

When asked whether this decision was informed to the students, the university official said that they would check with the concerned department, and if they failed to do so, will immediately notify the students.

Regarding the emails of the students enquiring about the fee increment those went unattended, they said, “I would enquire about it to the registrar and will do the needful immediately”.

Regarding the examination delay, the university has assured that it will not affect the outcome and thus students will complete their courses as scheduled.

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“The semester delays will be sorted out during the course period,” they said.

When enquired about the cancellation of internal exams and substituting them with assignments, they said, “Considering the student’s request, the university has decided to opt for assignment as the students are of different age groups and thus many found it difficult with the internal exam system and thus they decided to go ahead with assignments.”

The university officials have assured that all the issues raised by the students will be sorted out immediately.