State Govt orders to collect 30% fees, AMSU says unacceptable
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 06 2020:
The State Government has ordered all private and aided schools (other than the State Government schools and schools under the Central Government) to collect 30% of the monthly payable fees from the parents of the students and to pay 50% of the monthly salary to the teachers/staff for the period of closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic w.e.f April 2020 .
"In case there is/are agreement(s) between the school authorities and the parents/guardian association of the school, then also the amount of fees to be collected from the parents of the students shall not exceed 50% of the payable monthly fee under any circumstances and the salary of the teachers/staff shall not be below 50% of the payable monthly salary," said the order issued on October 5 .
"As advised by the Ministry of Home Affairs it is clarified that online/distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged and done to the extent possible" it said.
"This order shall be strictly complied with by authorities concerned of all private and aided schools (other than Government schools and schools under the Central Government)," said a release issued by the Department of Education (S) .
It also ordered all authorities concerned to ensure that the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the order issued by the State Home Department are followed and complied with in letter and spirit.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has opposed the circular issued on October 5 by the Department of Education (S) .
Speaking to media persons, HRD secretary of AMSU, Bruce Pebam stated that the circular is unacceptable and should be withdrawn on or before October 8.Bruce said that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced all the colleges and schools to remain closed and as for the schools it was discussed earlier not to collect fees from the parents who are economically hit by the virus and payment of salary to teachers and staff as per the number of students enrolled in the particular schools.
Circulars in this regard were also issued by the Department of Education (S), he said.
A circular was issued on May 26 notifying all private schools to submit detailed fee structure to the Government, but many schools have not cooperated well so far, he said while adding that the former Education Minister has stated that no fee should be collected earlier.
He also asked whether it was necessary on the part of the department to issue a different circular with the change of Education Minister.
As suggested by many commissions, the department has also issued circular informing concerned schools not to collect fees but the latest circular which bypasses the earlier circular is inappropriate and unacceptable, he said.
Such an immature stance on the part of the Government is objectionable, he continued while warning that AMSU is all set to launch various kinds of agitation if the circular is not withdrawn on or before October 8 .
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