While the students at Kathmandu Medical College (KMC) have been in protest stating that they were prohibited from taking classes after they denied paying more than the fees fixed by the Medical Education Commission (MEC), the college has denied the accusation.
Following the protest of the students, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel had monitored the college on Thursday and directed the college not to take more fees and address the problems of the students through a dialogue.
As instructed by the Minister, a meeting was held between agitating students and guardians and the government authorities on Friday, but the meeting ended inconclusively.
The talks held at the District Administration Office, Bhaktapur, were fruitless after the college administration took a stance that it could not reduce the fees.
Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur Rudra Devi Sharma said that the college representatives wanted to sit for a dialogue with the MEC to be clear about the fee structure.
Sunil Sharma, founder of the college, said that they were charging teaching fees as prescribed by the commission but they could not bear the examination fees and other charges taken by the university.
He further said the commission determined the fees without consulting with the college operators which was against of Medical Education Act. The act, in Section 18, mentions that medical education fees will be determined by the commission in consultation with college operators.
Sharma further said that they accepted the fee structure but they must rethink the examination fees.
The agitating students have also complained that the college has been charging an exorbitant hostel fee. But Sharma said it had been charging Rs. 12,000 per month which he said was reasonable.
Earlier on Thursday, Minister Paudel has said that action would be taken against the overcharging medical college operators.
Source : TRN,
