WB govt to issue reminders to schools that hiked fees in COVID-19 time

Kolkata, Apr 18 () The West Bengal government willissue reminders to private schools that have not respondedfavourably to the state education minister's request for nothiking fees in view of the COVID-19 triggered lockdown, asenior school education department official said on Saturday.

The reminder notice would also be sent to schools thatare seeking money from guardians under heads such asdevelopment fee or stationary fee, the official said.

Education Minister Partha Chatterjee had on April 8appealed to all private schools not to increase fees sayinghis department had received several complaints from guardiansover fee hikes during this crisis.

The school education department issued a notificationin this regard two days later.

"It is unfortunate that authorities of some privateunaided schools affiliated to various boards have not onlyhiked their fees but also put pressure on guardians to payduring the lockdown period," the notification said.

It also asked those schools to refrain from effectingany decision to hike fees considering the case of thoseguardians who would find it difficult to pay the existing feeduring the ongoing lockdown.

The official said a few private schools in past oneweek have announced putting on hold the decision to raisefees, but several others have increased it and insisted thatguardians pay the new fee by net banking within a stipulatedperiod.

"Some of the institutes which did not increase feesare asking the guardians to pay a specific amount of moneyunder categories like development fee or stationary fee byMay, though the schools will remain closed till June 10.

"We are keeping a tab on all these developments andalso got feedback from many guardians. We will send theschools concerned another reminder, if required. Then we willthink about future action with the power vested on us," hesaid.

The official refused to name the schools saying itwould not be proper. SUSNN NN