Don’t take school fees for March, April: Bihar govt

Faryal Rumi | TNN | Updated: Apr 14, 2020, 06:48 IST

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PATNA: The state education department on Monday directed all private schools not to take any fee, including transportation charges, for the lockdown period of March and April. Only those schools conducting online classes have been allowed to take tuition fee.
The instructions were issued after the department received complaints regarding the schools pressurising parents to pay fees for the new academic session 2020-21. The department warned private schools of strict action for demanding fees for the lockdown period.
Director of primary education Ranjit Kumar Singh said, “Schools, which are providing online classes, can take tuition fee only. Besides, other charges for March and April should be waived off.”
He also said private schools can’t force parents to pay the tuition fee for online classes and other study materials. “The schools should give a proper time period for fee payment, without charging any fine,” he said.
The directive came as a respite for many parents, who were not sure about paying the fees being demanded by the schools.
Kaushik Anand, who has two school-going kids, said, “It is a big relief for many parents. I have not paid fees despite receiving several notices from the school. The school is not only asking for tuition fees but other charges as well.”
Pragya Mehta, whose daughter studies in Class VI, said their family income has reduced sharply owing to the lockdown. “My husband is an entrepreneur and there is minimal income due to the lockdown. State government has taken the right decision by imposing restrictions on school fees,” she said.
Mary Alphonsa, principal of Don Bosco Academy, told this newspaper that the school administration would soon upload a notice to its official website regarding fees. “Following the directive of education department, we will take only tuition fees from parents. The other charges for March and April will be waived off. We will adjust the maintenance fees once the schools reopen,” she said.