-Mita Mukherjee

Amid the surge in Covid-19 cases in the second wave of Coronavirus that hit large parts of the country school campuses continued to remain shut and students were taught only through online mode.

In the absence of physical classes parents had demanded fees cuts citing their difficulties in paying fees because of job loss, salary cuts and slump in economy during the 2020- 21 academic session. On the other side private schools across the country too had complained about financial crisis as many guardians had not cleared the fees.

Fees were reduced at several states following court orders and decisions of state governments last year. This year too parents are making the same demand as classes are going on only through the online mode.

But schools of most states are against any fee cut this year as they are of the opinion that even though the campuses are closed, the costs for running the school have gone up.  The schools have complained a large number of parents have not been paying the fees for several months. This has resulted into severe financial crisis.

Some state governments, following court orders or on the basis of their own decisions, have asked the schools to not raise the fees for the current year.

A state-wise status of fees likely to be charged in 2021-22 by schools is given below.     

Assam: As per a notification of the state secondary education, schools charging up to Rs 27,000 per annum for pre-primary to class V and a maximum of Rs 32,000 for classes VI to X are exempted from fee cut. For classes IX to XII the limits are Rs 37,000 for science stream, Rs 32,000 for arts stream, Rs 33,000 for commerce. Schools wanting to charge more need to submit a proposal for the fixation of the fees.

Bihar: Schools charging full fees. But only on a monthly basis.

Chhattisgarh: Only tuition fee. No hike

Delhi: Delhi government enforced a High Court order that directs 15 per cent reduction in overall fees charged by private schools in city for 2021-22. The order is applicable to all the 460 schools that petitioned the High Court.

Gujarat: State government recommended 25 percent waiver in tuition fees. Parents demand a 50 percent reduction.

Haryana: Only tuition fees. No permission for collecting any other fees.

Jharkhand: Only tuition fees. No hike. No late fees.

Karnataka: Schools have been asked to collect 70 percent of the fees. But private school managements have ruled out any reduction for the 2021-22 academic session. Parent bodies have complained some schools were collecting full fees. Government has proposed setting up a fresh panel for fixing the fees for 2021-22.

Kerala: The Kerala High Court on February 9 ordered the state’s private unaided schools to provide a 20 percent discount on total fee for this year.

Madhya Pradesh: Only tuition fees. No hike.   

Maharashtra: The state government has proposed 15 percent fees reduction for the current academic session.

Odisha: The government has asked schools that have signed an MoU to follow the Orissa High Court order and charged reduced fees as per the terms mentioned in its notification on January 19,2021. The remaining schools throughout the state have been asked to offer 15 percent reduction for the academic year 2021.  

Punjab: Schools entitled to collect tuition fees. No hike. No annual charges.

Rajasthan: The Supreme Court has allowed schools to charge 85 percent fees. The 15 percent deduction is in lieu of unutilised facilities by the students during academic period 2020-21. 

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry: Twenty five percent reduction of entire fees. Schools can charge 75 percent of all fees in two installments. 40 per cent plus 35 percent.       

Telangana: Private schools directed to collect only tuition fees and to not increase the fees for 2021-22 until further order.

Uttarkhand: Only tuition fees. Schools can ask for total fees from the date they resume physical classes.

Uttar Pradesh: The state government has directed schools irrespective of boards to not increase any fees and charge the same fees as last year. Fees under transportation, library, computers, sports and science laboratories cannot be charged.   

West Bengal: Schools should charge 80 percent of the tuition fees as per an order of Calcutta High Court last year.

Also read: Covid19 Fees and online education 2020: States round-up