Kolkata, May 16 -- BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh on Saturday called for making professional education at private institutions more affordable for middle-class and lower-income students at the inauguration ceremony of Education Interface 2026 at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

Addressing the three-day education and career fair organised by Career Planner Edufair, the Baranagar MLA said many students who fail to secure seats in government institutions are unable to pursue higher education at private institutions because of high fees.

"Government institutions cannot accommodate everyone. But many students who do not get opportunities there also cannot study in private institutions because the fees are too high," Ghosh said.

Referring to private medical education, he said courses costing around Rs 1 crore remained beyond the reach of most families and urged institutions to reduce fees to expand opportunities for economically weaker students.

"If costs are reduced, more students will get opportunities," he said.

Ghosh also advocated "healthy competition" between government and private institutions and said higher education should be aligned more closely with practical skills and employment opportunities, arguing that several subjects taught in colleges lacked real-world relevance.

Addressing the inaugural session, Techno India Group founder and managing director and Sister Nivedita University chancellor Satyam Roychowdhury urged students to "not choose a degree, choose a direction" and said the education system should focus on creating "problem solvers" instead of only academic toppers. He also called on institutions to prepare students for a future shaped by artificial intelligence, sustainability and digital transformation.

Referring to Bengal's talent drain, Roychowdhury urged the new state government to create conditions that would encourage students and professionals to remain in the state rather than move elsewhere for opportunities.

The inauguration programme was also attended by BJP MLA Purnima Chakraborty, Techno India University co-chancellor and Techno India Group co-chairman Manoshi Roychowdhury, and JIS Group managing director Taranjit Singh, among others.

The fair will continue till May 18 from 11 am to 7 pm at Netaji Indoor Stadium.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.