Sushmita highlights ‘parents struggling to pay private school fees’, Himanta takes note

April 21: Amidst the nationwide lockdown due to the outbreak of coronavirus, many private schools are urging upon the parents to pay the school fees. The issue is more grave in case of certain schools in Assam who are  following CBSE curriculum. For these schools, usually the month of April is the time for for readmission. As per a notification issued by the MHRD, all students from Class I to IX and XI were promoted to the next class. So, the schools are asking the parents to pay the admission fees online.

Certain schools in Silchar like Don Bosco School has though revised their earlier decision of paying the huge fees by April and rather asked the parents to pay the fees after lockdown. Now the problem lies in the fact that with almost 40 days of lockdown, many parents who are into business or private jobs are having a tough time. Expecting such parents to pay a hefty amount of 30 to 40 thousand is indeed inhuman.

I would like to remind @himantabiswa ji to take a step to delay the payment of private school fees. I have got so many calls from parents who are struggling to pay school fees. 🙏🏻@atanubhuyan @pratidintime @NewsLiveGhy https://t.co/I6RVRB8YMr

— Sushmita Dev (@sushmitadevinc) April 21, 2020

Taking note of this matter, former MP and All India Mohila Congress President, Sushmita Dev tweeted the same to Assam Education Minister, Dr. Himanat Biswa Sarma. She wrote, “I hope Assam government will accept my suggestion to give people of Assam more time to pay the fees of private schools. @himantabiswa ji please do consider passing an advisory to schools, many states have taken this step. Replying to her tweet, Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, “We have noted your suggestion.”

We have noted your suggestion. https://t.co/B8qNBHinKR

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 21, 2020

This is indeed a very vital issue faced by the parents whose wards are studying in various private schools. Sushmita Dev further suggested to direct all the private schools in Assam to defer the payment of fees to atleast the end of this year in the interest of the child’s education. She has also mentioned that several states, such as Odisha, Maharashtra and Delhi have issued such orders and the states are following suit.

Those parents whose wards are studying in Silchar Don Bosco needs to spend 30 thousand plus in paying admission fees, which will be followed by purchasing of books and uniform etc. Though the school has now asked parents to pay the fees after lockdown, but the million dollar question is, from where will the parents pay such a hefty amount when all economic activities were shut for more than a month? This is just an instance. Other private schools, especially those following CBSE or ICSE patter  of Assam are also doing the same.

The Deputy Commissioners of all districts was served an advisory by the Chairman of Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) vide letter No ASCPCR (G) 35/2017/ Part-1/ 2020/24 of 12.04.2020 which stated that the Deputy Commissioners had to ensure that no school authority should force the guardians to deposit fees for education of their children and any school found practicing this should be stopped henceforth.

Sunita Changkakti, Chairperson, ASCPCR, mentioned that various private schools are instructing “the parents to deposit their wards’ school fee, admission fee etc for promotion to high class or even fresh admission” when the nation is gripped by coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

Though the State Minister of Education has noted the suggestion offered by Sushmita Dev, yet the same matter can also be taken up by the respective district administration. It is not a waiver but just deferring the time of payment of hefty admission fees so that the parents can get a breathing space.