Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 06 2010:
Taking strong exception to the design of some private/mission schools who have taken or attempting to take full fees for the four months' period during which no class was conducted even after written intimations have been sent against it, the AMSU, MSF and KSA have asked parents/guardians' associations of these schools to take a decision on the matter and place it before the public through media by February 12 .
A joint statement issued by the three student bodies said that they are constrained to seek a clear decision of the parents/guardians associations in order to thwart off any protest movement in the event of the AMSU, MSF and the KSA taking strong measures against the defiant private/mission schools.
They called upon all parents/guardians to decide openly whether they agree to collection of more than one month's fee.
Reiterating their stance that tuition fees should not be collected for more than one month, the student bodies said that parents/guardians may first complain to the parents/guardians associations of the schools to know their position on the matter.
The student bodies would not interfere in the affairs of the schools if the guardians of their students openly decide that they have no objection to collection of tuition fees for more than one month.
The assumption that parents/guardians associations of more reputed schools are there just to take admission quota and certain other benefits is becoming clearer in the present context, the student bodies remarked.
The AMSU, MSF and KSA have relaxed its stand for the 210 schools affiliated to the All Manipur Government Recognised Private School Welfare Association as the association has given its assurance to either reimburse the additional tuition fees collected or adjust in an amicable manner.
Exhorting parents to ascertain whether the schools where their children are studying are affiliated to the All Manipur Government Recognised Private School Welfare Association or not, the students invited complaint if the schools are not affiliated to the association.
Even if some private/mission schools have collected full tuition fees for four months, the AMSU, MSF and KSA would force the school authorities to reimburse the additional amounts.
They further ask all school authorities and guardians' associations not to make any effort for negotiation after February 12 when the student bodies have decided on its own course of action against defiant schools.
Maintaining that education system of Manipur cannot be steered by some private/mission school authorities in their own whim, the student bodies disclosed that they received complaints from parents against the decision of some school authorities who openly notified that only one month's fee would be waived off whereas associations of these schools have been silent all these days.
The student bodies appealed to all private/mission schools take a clear decision on the matter by February 12 just as All Manipur Govt Recognised Private School Welfare Association did.