Rohit Kumar
Port Blair, 21 June 2021
Ms. Anjali Sehrawat, Secretary (Education), Andaman and Nicobar Administration has ordered private unaided schools of A & N Islands to charge only the tuition fees from the parents/students till further orders/regular opening of schools for all classes.
She has further barred the schools from collecting fees on quarterly basis and have specifically ordered them to collect fees only on monthly basis. The fees charged by the students have also been capped and no increase will be allowed in the academic session 2021-22 during the period of operation of the order.
Heads of the schools/Management has been ordered to provide the access to digital education facilities/materials to all students without any discrimination. Heads of schools/management has further been ordered not to deny digital education facilities/materials to the students who are unable to pay the school fees due to financial crises of their parents/guardians arising out of restricted business/economic activities in the ongoing pandemic situation.
Schools have been specifically instructed not put additional financial burden on the parents/students by creating any new head of fees etc.
Head of the Schools/Management have been instructed not to stop the payment of monthly salary nor reduce the existing total emoluments to teaching and non-teaching staff of their schools in the name of non-availability of funds. Schools have been instructed to arrange the funds from the Society/Trust running the school in case of any shortfall in the funds.
The order was passed after it was noticed that some private unaided schools were charging fees from students for the academic session 2021-22 at increased rates under various heads, which was creating hardships for the parents/guardians whose livelihoods are adversely impacted due to COVID-19 related restrictions.