Private schools can ask for fees but can’t pressure parents

TNN | Apr 14, 2020, 07:52 IST

Gurgaon: In a major development regarding collection of school fees during lockdown, the state government on Monday allowed private schools to collect fees on a monthly basis to help them pay staff salaries, borrowing from a similar model rolled out by the Uttar Pradesh government last week.
The education department has reiterated that schools will not pressur e parents to pay quarterly fees, and no transportation charges can be levied.
“We have been apprised that many schools are forcing parents to pay up quarterly fee despite directives issued by the department. This order asserts that schools may ask parents only for monthly fees and not quarterly fees in the lockdown period,” read the order.
The order further cautioned schools that “neither the schools can pressurize the parents who pledge their inability to pay the fee nor should their wards be subjected to any sort of exclusion form academic activities.”
Meanwhile, parents are slightly relieved but are still expecting a fee waiver.
“I have a business and I too need to pay my staff. The lockdown has impacted my earnings and coming quarters look very disheartening. There should be a fee waiver,” argued Raj, a parent whose children study in one of the leading schools in the city.