Private schools in Chandigarh unlikely to reopen on November 2

Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 29

Private schools in Chandigarh are unlikely to resume physical classes from November 2 as they have not received the consent of the parents of the minimum 50 per cent students, the mark set by the Independent Schools Association (ISA).

Govt schools can now charge entire fee

The DSE and the DEO on Thursday announced that the government schools shall collect monthly fee from classes IX and X students from October. It was clarified that annual funds had been waived for a period from April to September. It meant that schools can collect half of annual funds along with monthly fee from October onwards.

The association also wanted the UT Administration to clear its stand on school fee, especially after government schools are allowed to charge it from October onwards, as they reportedly faced losses in the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Till date, the response of parents is not so good. It will be tough for teachers to take both online and physical classes. We will continue with the online mode of teaching,” said HS Mamik, president, ISA.

Over 78 private schools are affiliated with the ISA. Issuing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reopening of schools, the office of the District Education Officer (DEO) had yesterday stated that students of classes X and XII will attend school from 9 am to 11.30 am, while classes IX and XI will be conducted from noon to 2.30 pm. It also mentioned that the written consent of parents to send their wards to school should be taken by the respective institutions before or on the day of reopening. The consent will be valid unless withdrawn by the parent. School heads were also directed to prepare a schedule to enable teachers to take both online and physical classes on the school premises.

On the issue of allowing government schools to charge fee, Mamik said the rules should be equal for all. “If private schools are forbidden from charging full fee, the government schools too should follow the same. Both government and private sectors faced losses in this pandemic. While the UT Administration allowed its schools to charge fee from students, we have been forced to collect only tuition fee,” he said.

“We have already submitted a representation requesting the Administration to review the restriction on charging of fee. We are yet to hear from them,” he added.

UT Adviser Manoj Parida said, “Private schools can collect tuition fee. The matter of charging other fee is sub judice.”

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