AIDSO opposes move to convert RC College into constituent institution; fears 300% fee hike

The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has opposed the conversion of RC college into a constituent college of Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University (BCU). Condemning the Karnataka government’s fresh attempts to convert the RC college, the students’ body said it will harm the state’s public higher education system.

The RC College is a regular government degree college and converting it into a constituent college under a university will lead to steep fee hikes, the AIDSO said.

“Across Karnataka, constituent colleges under universities charge 200% to 300% higher fees compared to regular Government Degree Colleges. Converting RC College into a constituent college will inevitably lead to such steep fee hikes, making this historic and widely accessible institution unaffordable for thousands of students from working-class, poor and middle-class families,” the AIDSO said in an official statement.

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AIDSO urges higher education department to impose ban on conversion

Moreover, instead of burdening students with high fees and restricted access, the state government should focus on improving infrastructure, filling vacant teaching and non-teaching posts, strengthening academic departments and expanding facilities, the organisation added.

Earlier, the AIDSO had organised a movement against a similar model where students, teachers, parents, and academic experts also opposed it. “This proposal is nothing but another attempt to push commercialisation and centralisation into Karnataka’s public higher education system,” the body said.

The AIDSO has urged the state government to ‘immediately’ withdraw the conversion move and authorise RC College as a full-fledged government degree college with adequate recruitment, transparent administration and improved facilities.

The organisation has also demanded a public assurance from the higher education department to impose a ban on conversion of government college into a constituent college in Karnataka in the future.

“If the government proceeds with this anti-student move, AIDSO will be compelled to launch a strong, democratic statewide movement to defend accessible and affordable public education,” the AIDSO said.