KOLKATA: Most city schools have formed committees that are meeting parents who have applied for waivers higher than what has been permitted by the High Court. While allowing such waivers after an assessment of individual situations, schools are advising them to consider the option of shifting their wards to schools that would be less expensive. Schools said they cannot continue to give such waivers beyond the ongoing fourth quarter.
There are over 15%-20% parents who have met school committees to seek higher waivers showing proof of distress. And schools have given them anything between 30%-100% waivers after evaluation on the understanding that they would start paying from the fourth quarter. However, many of them are now requesting schools to continue with it. Schools have now started asking these parents to take a call by the time the present academic session ends in three months.
“Free lunches cannot continue forever. You cannot have lunch at a five-star hotel and pay for dhaba food, can you? We have given even 100% waivers wherever we thought the distress was genuine. There are many who took more than 30% off. But can this go on forever?” asked brigadier V N Chaturvedi, spokesperson of Birla High School and Sushila Birla Girls’ School.
Defaulting parents are being called in groups to La Martiniere Schools for a last meeting over non-payment. “Many have taken higher waivers and many have not even bothered to communicate with us. We will ask their intent and suggest they shift their wards,” said Supriyo Dhar, secretary of the two schools.
A list of parents who have not paid from day one has been drawn up and several other defaulting class-wise lists have been made. The Class X situation is being assessed first because they have to take re-admission in Class XI. “We will ask defaulting parents to take transfer certificates if they cannot afford our school. We have given higher waivers wherever necessary, but this cannot go on forever. This is true of the other classes as well,” said Bratati Bhattacharya, spokesperson of Shri Shikshayatan School.
Schools like New Town School and Indus Valley World School will review the situation after March. They have decided to continue giving the higher waiver to whoever is coming back for help for the fourth quarter. “The situation will become clearer in March and then we will take a call,” said Shatabdi Bhattacharya, principal of New Town School.
Amita Prasad, director of Indus Valley World School, said it will be easier to assess the situation after students get back on campus.