The Uttarakhand Abhibhavak Sangh (UAS) has alleged that the State education department is influenced by some private schools. The department takes decisions under the influence of some private schools, alleged the UAS. The Sangh questioned why the Uttarakhand Government was lagging behind when various State Governments have provided relaxation in school fees during the lockdown. "The education department recently declared that the parents who are capable of depositing the fee should submit it. Subsequently, the schools bombarded parents with several messages and emails reminding them to pay the fee that includes activity charges and lab charges besides tuition fee. Why is nothing being done against such schools?” questioned the UAS president Ram Kumar Singhal.
He further added that the government just heard the side of Principals Progressive Schools’ Association (PPSA) and did not consider how the parents will deposit the fee during such a crisis. According to the members of UAS, the parents have to buy new sets of books in the new session that costs thousands of rupees which is quite difficult to afford during the lockdown for several parents.
But the State Government is not giving any relaxation to parents, all it cares for is the private schools and their requirements, stated the members. "We will not accept it and we will not pay any kind of school fee during the lockdown. If other states can provide relaxation to the parents, our government can do it too. If needed, we will go to High Court too but will not submit to such irresponsible behaviour of the government and schools," stated Singhal.
Talking about the private schools asking for the fee including all the other charges, chief education officer Asha Rani Painuly said, "The parents must be looking at the old fee structure on schools' website as I recently received some similar complaints. Most of the schools have updated their website with a new fee structure." Painuly added that the schools have been instructed by the government to charge only tuition fees during the lockdown period. On being asked about the schools pressurising parents by sending emails and messages to deposit the fee, Painuly said that those who cannot submit the fee currently can reply to the school administration that they are incapable of paying the fee for now. The parents cannot be forced to pay the fee during the lockdown, stated Painuly.