Schools can collect only tuition fee monthly: Govt

TNN | Apr 24, 2020, 07:27 IST

Gurgaon: The state government on Thursday revised its order on fee collection, making it more elaborate, and much to the relief of parents in the city. The directorate of education has instructed all private schools against collection of any fee other than tuition fee during the lockdown period. Schools and colleges in the state will continue to remain closed till May 3.
The order reiterated its previous stand and clearly spelt out that schools cannot demand anything more than tuition fee and that no hidden charges should be included in the bills for the months during the lockdown period. The seven-point order attempts to allay confusion and misinterpretation of the previous order.
“It has come to our notice that despite clear orders of April 12, many schools are forcing parents to pay the fee. They are even demanding charges other than tuition fee. Thus, the department directs that all private schools can collect only tuition fee on a monthly basis. Also, charges like annual and development fee among others should be done away with. Parents who are incapable to pay should not be pressured and their wards must not be denied from online academic activities,” stated the order.
For past few weeks, parents have been raising their voices against private schools which are raising bills over and above the tuition fee. They contested that even though schools are closed and only virtual classes are being held, several schools were charging annual and development fee, assessment and evaluation fee and journal and print material fee among others.
Parents said tuition fee hardly constitutes 40% of the total fee and given that everyone is grappling with deep pay cuts and job and business losses, schools should consider the request for collecting just tuition fee.