Bengaluru: The uncertainty over the seat matrix for medical and dentals college seats this year is over but students will have to cough out a lot more money to fulfill their career dreams.
The state government and private medical/ dental colleges association signed the revised consensual agreement on the medical and dental seat matrix on Thursday. As per the agreement, a steep fee hike has been implemented for medical and dental courses.
In private medical and dental colleges, 40% of seats will be filled by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). With this, around 750 MBBS and 1,400 dental seats will be available for selection for government CET students.
Medical colleges: New seat matrix announced
Government CET students: According to the consensual agreement, there will be no change in the seat matrix. Both in private medical and dental colleges of the state, 40% of the seats will be filled by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA).
But the revised fee structure will pinch students. As per the original consensual agreement signed between the private colleges association and the state government, it was proposed to increase the fee structure by 10% compared to last year. But now it is 30%.
But experts feel that even after the revision of the fee structure the MBBS course fee in a private college will be just Rs 70,000 per year and the dental course fee, Rs 45,000. "Compared to neighbouring states, it is very less. Most of the students who appear for the CET, can afford this fee," said an officer from the medical education minister’s office.
Students who were worried following the private colleges association announcement that they will not surrender any seats for government CET students, are now a relieved lot. "The MBBS course fee has been increased from Rs 55,000 to Rs 70,000 but a Rs 15,000 hike is moderate," reasoned Deepthi Gowda, a medical seat aspirant.
All India Quota merit students: It is the all India quota students who are shocked by the revised fee structure. These students need to get a good ranking in the NEET to secure a seat in a private medical/ dental college. Even if they secure a seat, it is not easy to foot the new fee which is Rs 5,75,000 for the MBBS course per year and Rs 3,90,000 for the BDS course.
"The MBBS course annual fee has been increased by Rs 1,50,000 per year. It is an injustice to these students. Till now Karnataka had an affordable medical and dental fee structure. But now it is equal to other states," said Sudeer Dubhe, a candidate from Andhra Pradesh.
But private colleges have justified the revised fee structure. According to Mr MR Jayaram of MS Ramaiah Medical College and Secretary, Private colleges association, the fee structure has been increased considering the high cost of imparting education in private medical and dental colleges.
He stated that even though there no obligation for private medical and dental institutions to share seats with the state government in the backdrop of the NEET scheme, they agreed to the request of the state government that for this year, the entrance examination conducted by the state enjoys exemption from NEET. The members of the Private collegesassociation have generously agreed to share 40% of the medical under-graduate seats and 35% of dental under-graduate seats with the state government for allotment through KEA, he said.
