Govt mulls waiver of school fees for poor

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the Education department will discuss waiving off school fees for poor families.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “The Education department will look into it (waiver of school fees). The matter will have to be taken up by the department with the school managing committees (SMCs)”.
Meanwhile, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) central executive council has written to Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui for waiving off school, college and university fees during the lockdown period.
In a letter to the minister, the HYC stated that there are no employment opportunities due to the lockdown and the public are unable to pay their children’s education fees.
The organisation stated that despite the state government directing schools to close down till April 30, there were circulars or suggestions given to schools and colleges for waving off the fees.
The HYC has suggested that the state government should waive the school/college fees during the lockdown period and relax as well as extend the deadline for payment of fees for the upcoming months after the lifting of the lockdown.
It also suggested that the government should direct educational institutions not to hike or demand any additional fees from the students on the pretext of providing online classes/activities.
With regard to salaries of the teachers and professors as well as non-teaching staff, the organisation said that the institutions should make sure that payments of salaries are made on time.