UP GOVT BANS HIKE IN SCHOOL FEES FOR THIS ACADEMIC SESSION
LUCKNOW : In the wake of pandemic COVID-19, the state government on Thursday said schools in Uttar Pradesh cannot increase fees for the ongoing academic session (2021-22). The order is applicable to all UP Board, CBSE, ICSE/ISC schools in the state.
This is for second successive year that the state government has prohibited schools from raising fees.
Also, schools had been barred from charging transportation fee during the lockdown period, said deputy chief minister, Dinesh Sharma, who holds charge of secondary education department.
The decision was taken after parents’ complaints that a few private schools had collected transportation fees even when institutions were closed.
The state government asked schools to collect fees on monthly basis instead of quarterly from parents, who had expressed inability to pay fees in bulk, said Sharma.
Schools, which had already collected increased fees, are directed to adjust the extra fees in coming months, he said.
Considering that only online
classes are being held, the state government has asked the schools to not include examination fees, laboratory fees, sports fees, library fees, computer fees and fees in the name of extracurricular activities in the total fees of students.
Deputy CM said schools can take fees in accordance with the arrangements they had for the 2019-20 session as the fees was not hiked last year also due to the similar situation during the first wave.
“If the parents of a student are suffering from COVID-19, their current month’s fees could be adjusted in the next month’s fees on their written request,” Sharma said.
These decisions were taken to reduce burden of fee hike from parents suffering financial losses because of pandemic, said Aradhana Shukla, additional chief secretary, secondary education, in a missive sent to secretary and director secondary education on Thursday.
The state government has directed schools to ensure timely payments of salaries to teachers and all school staff. District Inspector of Schools (DIOSs) had been asked to ensure compliance of state government order by all the schools in their respective districts.
Sharma said, “Parents can complain to fees fixation committees in districts in case schools violate state government order regarding fees.” He said people are affected economically due to the COVID-19 second wave hence government decided to issue this order regarding ban in fee hike.
The order was issued after the department received several complaints about schools forcing parents to deposit the first quarterly fees on time failing which their child’s name will be struck off. The department has warned action against schools found guilty of harassing parents in the name of fees.
President of Unaided Private Schools Association, UP, Anil Agarwal said, “We are ready to follow government order but at the same time parents should extend complete cooperation by depositing fees on time.”
City Montessori School founding manager Jagdish Gandhi said, “We shall follow all the guidelines issued by the government.”
“Every year the expenses rise due to inflation. Schools have to increase the salaries of their teachers every year like any other organisation. Last year government didn’t allow us to increase the fees. It will be a setback for the teaching community and will demotivate them who have been working so hard in the Covid period. I hope government reviews its decision for the well-being of teaching fraternity and good education system,” said Sarvesh Goel, chairman, GD Goenka Public School, Lucknow.