Valley
Private med schools fail to furnish bank details
Private medical colleges have failed to furnish their bank account numbers, which were asked by the Ministry of Education in order to regulate alleged malpractices, including charging exorbitant fees, in these medical schools.Manish Gautam
Private medical colleges have failed to furnish their bank account numbers, which were asked by the Ministry of Education in order to regulate alleged malpractices, including charging exorbitant fees, in these medical schools.
In its bid to regulate the fees deposited to private medical schools, the MoE on Monday had made provisions to initiate admission process only after students submit the payment vouchers to the Institute of Medicine (IoM).
Banks have denied any transactions taking place in the account numbers of private medical schools, saying that “they were asked not to accept the money” from students.
The bank account numbers were provided by the private medical colleges to students, asking them to deposit the required amount.
IoM Dean Dr Rakesh Shriwastav described such move by private medical colleges as “insensitive” and warned of strong action if they fail to comply with the MoE decision.
“Students who went to deposit the money were turned away by banks while the colleges have not furnished their account numbers to IoM,” said Dr Shriwastav.
There are two fee provisions made for medical colleges based inside and outside of the Kathmandu Valley.
For students enrolling in colleges based in the Kathmandu Valley, they can submit Rs 1,750,000, the first instalment of the total Rs 3,500,000, to the accounts of the colleges.
The rest amount is paid in three instalments.
For colleges outside the Kathmandu Valley, the government has earmarked the total fee at Rs 3,850,000 and students need to pay Rs 1,925,000 as first instalment.
The students were asked to submit the payment vouchers to IoM, which will start the admission process in its affiliated medical schools based on the merit list.
But complaints have been rife that private medical colleges take students not on merit basis but on the basis of “who pays more”. The ministry decision to seek bank account number of medical schools was aimed at curbing the anomalies so that students get admission on merit basis.
MoE Spokesperson Hari Lamsal said they will hold talks with IoM on the issue and will direct private medical colleges to comply with the decision.
“Private medical colleges cannot defy the decision, which is crucial to effect reforms in the medical education sector,” said Lamsal.
Private medical colleges, following an agreement with Dr Govinda KC, who had gone on a fast-unto-death seeking reforms in the medical education sector, had agreed to put a ceiling of Rs 3,500,000 for MBBS education. The recommendation was made by a high level committee chaired by Kedar Bhakta Mathema. Ever since the submission of the report, private medical colleges have been pressing the government to review the decision.