GUWAHATI: The Assam education department has directed private schools of the state to waive 50 per cent fee of all students for the month of April 2020.
Announcing this before reporters here on Wednesday, state education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said private schools have been asked to charge only 50 per cent of the school fee for the month of April, for all students up to Class XII, keeping in mind the hardships faced by all sections of people in the wake of the medical emergency and ongoing lockdown.
All educational institutions have been closed since mid-March 2020 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If schools have already collected the fee for April, it has to be adjusted in the month of May. If some schools want to further waive any percentage (beyond 50 per cent) of the fee, then it is up to them,” Sarma said.
The minister also said without prior government’s approval, no school would be allowed to hike school fee. “This will be norm as long as the emergency situation continues owing to the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, no private school will be allowed to deduct salary of teachers and staff of the institutions,” Sarma said.
He warned that if any school was found violating the directive, then the state government would be compelled to close the institution under the Disaster Management Act.
“The decision by the education department has been taken with the approval of the chief minister and in consultation with educationists. We believe that private schools will adhere to the directive as a token of goodwill in this hour of crisis,” Sarma said.
The education minister further stated that if the lockdown remained till May 31, 2020, then the total loss estimated would be 52 days.
“These 52 days can be managed by having full day classes on Saturdays and if necessary on Sundays. The declared holidays can be waived and the summer vacation break curtailed. However, if the lockdown persists then it will be difficult to manage the academic year, even as we have advised the department to prepare a contingency plan,” the minister said.