AAP: CM's announcement of fee waiver in schools betrayal

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AAP terms free education betrayal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 1

Terming the announcement of waiver of fee in government schools in the state by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh as “backstabbing and betrayal” with students and their parents, the Aam Aadmi Party said directives issued by the Education Department had “exposed the lies” of the Chief Minister.

The party said the Chief Minister should apologise to people and withdraw the order/notification issued by the Education Department seeking different fee from students of Classes XI and XII.

In a statement issued from the party headquarters, MLAs Principal Budh Ram, Meet Hayer, Rupinder Kaur Ruby and Kulwant Singh Pandori claimed that on one hand the Chief Minister was issuing orders of complete waiver of fee pertaining to students of government schools, while on the other hand, the Punjab Education Department was issuing orders to levy multiple fee from students of Classes IX-XII.

They sought clarification from the Chief Minister regarding the orders issued by the Controller of Punjab School Education Board dated August 24. They claimed that the reality of the Chief Minister’s announcement was that only a meagre fee deposited in the state exchequer were waived, while the major part of the fee being collected as amalgamated fund, sports fund, PTA and cultural fund would be charged from students apart from examination fee.