AIMS flays commodification of students
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 21 2022:
Pointing out that some private schools did not follow the form fill up fee structure laid down by BSEM and CoHSEM by taking unreasonable amount of money from Class X and Class XII students, Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS) has denounced commodification of students and demanded of return the excess amount charged within short notice.
In a release, AIMS secretary general Nickerson Khumancha informed that the form fill-up fee for Class X is Rs 2400 and Rs 2350 for Class XII along with Rs 250 for each science practical subject as per BSEM and CoHSEM guidelines.
As such, biking the fee money indicates that students are being equated to commercial items and consequently add to burdens of the poor parents who have already been affected by Covid-19 pandemic.
Surprisingly, some private schools levied tuition fees of additional months and even intimidated students to the cough up the fine along with warning to bar them from filling up the form if they do attend coaching class conducted in the school or stay in the boarding run by the school, AIMS alleged and asserted it will not remain a silent spectator over such matter.
Nickerson also made it clear that the Lup will take all possible measures to ensure that the rights of poor students to proper education are upheld.
The secretary further stated1 that there are several schools in the state that run only for mere profit and diverting the very idea of producing good students to bring reputation for the school.
These schools should stop such practices and reiterated that schools that took excess amount of money from the students should return the same by issuing a notice without further delay, he demanded, while cautioning that AIMS will make public the names of defaulting schools.
In order to ensure development and progress in educational sector, Nickerson demanded authorities concerned to frame policies instead of inviting public wrath by coming up with ad-hoc policies to suit their own selfish interest.
AIMS will closely look into those schools and teachers that commodify the students and convert schools into business establishment, the secretary cautioned.