The education department of the state of Haryana has permitted the private schools to collect the monthly fee. The schools had earlier been instructed not to charge any fee till the restarting of normal classes. However, it was observed that the schools were collecting the first three month’s fee for the new academic year in April and those students’ names were being struck off the rolls who were unable to pay, thus depriving them of online classes.
The department has issued three directives since March stating that the schools should not put pressure on parents upon payment of fees until normal classes are resumed. They are not even to charge the transportation fee during the lockdown. Those parents who are facing financial stress due to the lockdown should not be compelled to pay the monthly fee too. The letter also stated that the schools can collect the fee in installments in the coming months.
If the schools are found not complying with the directive, the parents can share their grievances as per Rule 158-A of Haryana School Education Rules, 2003. The schools have welcomed the order as this way they can pay the salaries to their teachers. There is no clarity yet from the department regarding the annual hike.
