Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 11: Even after the government issued orders, extending a 30 percent cut in the school fee, the standoff between the department of public instruction and private school managements continues.

While the government has said that this is an extraordinary situation and that the private schools are expected to oblige by cutting the fee by 30 percent, the private schools say that considering various other cuts affected by the government, the actual impact on the school managements works out to 55 percent.

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Education minister S Suresh Kumar has again said that the government has taken a decision that is in the best interests of everyone concerned and urged the school managements to cooperate. He said he is open to suggestions, if anyone comes forward with the one to solve the problem and protect the future of the children.

Sources in the education department say that classes will continue to be held and examinations are planned for May and June. Therefore, there will not be any holidays till May. After the academic year ends, a holiday of ten to 15 days may be considered, they clarified.

The government in the meantime, has not taken any decision on reopening of classes from 1 to 9. A decision has to be taken after education minister Suresh Kumar and health minister Dr K Sudhakar hold a meeting and discuss all the issues. The department of public instruction is enthusiastic about starting classes from 6 to 8 after February 15 but neither the health department nor the technical committee have given permission for the same so far.

Private school associations warn of protest

Reacting on the government's decision asking schools to effect 30 percent cut in the tuition fee and to halt other additional payments, six private school associations across the state have planned to stage a protest. The stakeholders of the six institutions met on Tuesday, February 9 and demanded that the decision be withdrawn by February 23, failing which they would launch a protest in Bengaluru. The associations’ decision comes two days after they met minister Dr K Sudhakar and submitted a memorandum asking that the fees concession be limited to 15 percent.

The associations have also asked for grants from the government for the non-teaching staff to ease their financial hardships to fill the deficit as a result of lack of funds with the schools and owing to the non-payment of dues and the subsequent fee cut.

Associated Managements of English Medium schools in Karnataka (KAMS) general secretary Shashi Kumar, during the meeting said that the government should withdraw the order of fee cut and the concession should be announced only after taking into consideration the financial status of the parents and school.

"Obtaining no-objection certificates (NOCs) from governmental departments like the public works department, pertaining to the safety regulations of the infrastructure, is proving cost extensive. With the blanket fee cut, school managements are struggling to resolve the financial crunch. We demand that the government issue us a renewal of these certificates as early as possible," he said.

He further asked the government to safeguard the schools from the malpractices being carried out by the Block Education Officer (BEO) and Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) officials, which he termed 'atrocious' during the pandemic period.

The six associations have also demanded accreditation of infrastructural developments to be made under the safety norms of the Child Safety Act and Department of Women and Child Welfare. Citing the disruption in students’ learning as the reason, the school associations also demanded that like in other states, physical classes for Classes 1 to 5 should resume in Karnataka as well.