In a major relief to the parents, the Uttarakhand Government has directed the private schools to charge only tuition fee for the period of lockdown from the parents. Strict action would be taken against the schools that would exert pressure on the parents to charge additional fees in excess of the tuition fees. These orders were given by education minister Arvind Pandey to the officers of the department while undertaking a video conferencing session with the district magistrates (DMs) and chief education officers (CEO) of all the districts on Friday. The chief secretary, Utpal Kumar Singh and the secretary, education, R Meenakshi Sundaram were also present in the session. In the meeting the minister said that the state government is engaged in a battle to prevent spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the intention of the government is provide relief to the general public during this time of crisis. He said that some private schools are exerting unnecessary pressure on the parents to deposit additional fees which is illegal. Pandey warned that strict action would be initiated against such schools. He also directed the officers to ensure that the schools don’t force parents to deposit the fees of the whole year or some months at one time. The schools should give the option of depositing fees in instalments to the parents. The minister added that due to the lockdown all schools are closed but some schools are asking parents to deposit conveyance, computer and other fees. On a stern note, the minister said that the recognition of such schools can get cancelled.
He however added that the parents who are capable to fees in one instalment only are free to do so. Pandey said that the complaint against the schools charging excess fees should be forwarded to him so that necessary action can be taken against them. He clarified that all the schools should only recommend the textbooks of NCERT only.
Pandey warned that punitive action is needed to be taken against the block development officers (BEO), district education officers (DEO) and CEOs who have proved to be incapable of acting against corruption.