Govt order on school fee irks parents

SHILLONG: A section of the parents of Pine Mount School, Shillong have questioned the recent order of the Education department to fix the School Development Fund and Computer Lab without taking the parents into confidence.
Besides Pine Mount School, the order which was approved by the Governor on May 24 will also be applicable to Shillong Public School, Jowai Public School and Tura Public School.
As per the order, the department has fixed the School Development Fund at Rs 2400 per student per annum while the Computer Laboratory Fee will be Rs 500 per student per annum. A section of the parents who do want to be named on Tuesday stated that the school authorities from time to time have been directing the parents to pay various other fees including sanitary fees without issuing any official receipts.
The parents also stated that the staff of the school had in the past behaved rudely when they asked for receipts.
When contacted, the Commissioner and Secretary DP Wahlang said that if the parents are aggrieved with the ‘overcharged’ fees, they can write a complaint to the Education Department.