Chennai, August 11 (BPNS)
The Tamil Nadu state education department has reiterated that all unaided private schools in the state should follow the guidelines put forth by the Madras High Court in collecting of fees for the current academic year.
The state School Education commissioner K . Nandhakumar in a circular to all Chief Educational Officials and District Educational Officials have directed that they should act according to the order of the Madras High court regarding the collection of fees from students in unaided private schools.
The Madras High court has specified that if a dispute arises between Parent/Student or the school management, the concerned District Educational Officials should take an appropriate decision.
The commissioner in his circular has reiterated to all the District Educational Officials and the Chief Educational Officials to instruct once again all the unaided private schools on the fee collection for the academic year 2021-22. The circular calls upon the CEOs and DEO’s to communicate to the unaided schools that if there was any violation from them it would lead to contempt of court. The circular also states that severe action would be taken against the concerned school if it violates the direction in collecting fees.
The Madras High Court has said that the schools can collect fees up to 85% in six installments from parents who were not affected by Covid -19 for the academic year 2021-22. Parents who have suffered a loss of income due to the pandemic can furnish a request with the school management for consideration of a reduction in fee and can pay 75% of the original fee in six equal installments. The fee is what was fixed during the academic year 2019-20. Private Unaided educational institutions have been directed to collect the fee arrears for 2020-21 in equal installments.
The court has also directed the school managements to entertain the request of those who have lost their jobs or business during the pandemic. However, the court said that this can be entertained only on an individual basis.
