Protests against fee collection continue

CHANDIGARH : Parents protested outside Aashiana Public School, Sector 46, and Saupin’s School, Sector 32, here on Friday, against collection of fee despite classes being suspended owing to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Around six similar protests have been witnessed in Chandigarh since last week.

The protesting parents said that they could not afford to pay the school fee as their economic condition was constantly deteriorating due to loss of jobs amid the lockdown.They alleged that schools were also charging them for ACs, electricity etc even when they were closed. Nitin Goyal, president, Chandigarh parents’ association, said, “Due to the negligence of the UT administration and the greed of the school managements, parents have been forced to come out on the streets.” He added, “As no reprieve has been given to the parents, mass litigation is the next plan of action. Till the pendency of the issue, the fee payments will be held back. ”Monica Sharma, principal, Ashiana Public School, Sector 46, refused to comment and the director of the school did not respond to the queries.“I just told them that our fee structure was within the limits of the education department’s order. They did not wish to engage in any dialogue,” said Amarbir Singh Sidhu, director, Saupin’s School.