In Chennai, schools demanding full fees, parents worried
Posted on: 20/Jan/2022 9:33:42 AM
The Coronavirus pandemic has created many issues for the public and many have lost their jobs etc. To make both ends meet, people are struggling now. In this scenario, some schools in Chennai have been asking the parents to pay full fees for the students. Many parents were of the view that this demand was unfair because the schools were not functioning fully and the classes were not being conducted.
The schools were supposed to collect just 85% of the fees only and this was according to the directive from the government. It was brought out by an official that the schools would face action for demanding full fees from the parents. He added that erring schools have been issued warnings already. The excess money that was collected as school fees was given back to the parents and this was in certain cases only. It must be taken into note that for 2020-21Madras High Court permitted private unaided schools in TN to collect just 85% of the annual fees in as many as 6 installments from those students whose parents did not suffer income loss due to the pandemic.
It was mentioned by a circular from the school education department that those parents who suffered loss of income might apply to the school management. The school management must consider their requests and collect just 75% of the fees.
As per the parent of a student studying in class 11 in a private school in Chennai, if the schools conduct physical classes then full fees could be paid. He added that offline classes were held for just 2 to 3 hours every day and the students learn mostly from the tuition etc. He concluded that demanding 85% fees was not correct. There are some schools in Chennai that demand full fees to be paid in a single installment itself from the newly admitted students.
