Education Department issues notices to schools for demanding fee

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 8

The Education Department on Wednesday issued show-cause notices to two more private schools in the city for demanding fees during the lockdown period.

Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla has been personally ensuring strict compliance of the government’s order that has prevented schools from demanding fee during the lockdown period. The minister has asked the parents to send complaints against erring schools on his email ([email protected]).

The two schools that have been issued notices are Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Majitha Road, and Ryan International School, Singla said. Earlier, notices were issued to Angel’s Paradise, Ajit Nagar. The Cabinet Minister said the schools should not charge transportation fee and book charges from students for the next academic session till the lockdown is over.

“The Education Department issued an order on March 23, asking private schools in the state to reschedule their admissions for the Session 2020-21. The schools have been directed to provide atleast 30-day window for submission of fees after the situation turns normal. They have also been instructed not to charge any late fees or fine from the students for the lockdown period.”

He said violators of the orders have been served notices and given a seven-day time to reply. If they failed to give satisfactory reply, their affiliation or no-objection certificate would be withdrawn, he said.

Meanwhile, the president of Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), Nirmal Singh, clarified his stance over the issue of demanding fee from students. He said: “All schools and educational institutions of the CKD, including Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Majitha Bypas, were shut before the lockdown was announced by the state government. So, there is no question of demanding fee from students. The messages received by students regarding fee payment were auto-generated and sent by the bank concerned.”

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