ES Reporter

ITANAGAR Aug 12: Government schools falling under the jurisdiction of Papumpare have been directed not to charge more than the prescribed school fees as notified in a government order issued on July 30, through Secretary Education.
“It has been brought to my notice that some schools are charging additional admission fees by not complying with the school fees notified by the government, " Deputy Director of the School Education (DDSE), Papumpare in an order issued on Tuesday stated.
DDSE asked the heads of all the schools to comply with a government order and directed the schools to refund the excess money already collected above the govt. notified fees to the respective parents/students.
Earlier on Monday, Nabam Issac, an MA student of RGU also submitted a complaint letter to the DDSE office, Papumpare seeking his intervention in the fee hike case.
 The complainant accused the school authority of violating the fee structure set by the government order dated 30 July 2020, thereby adding additional burden on the pockets of poor parents already hit hard by COVID-19 situation.
The complainant alleged that various schools under Papumpare have been charging hefty fees varying from Rs 500–1500 and up to Rs 3500 from each student in violation of the government order.
“At a time when people are struggling with job shortages, and declining incomes, the pressure to pay hiked school fees has worsened the situation for poor parents who are daily wagers, farmers, vendors, part-time workers, contractual workers,” he said.
In a separate video message, the complainant also showed the copies of receipt of the fees being collected from the students of several schools along with the relevant government circulars, which clearly shows that the fees are allegedly collected above the prescribed fee structure prescribed by the government.
Meanwhile in another order issued by DDSE, ICR on August 11 following an objection  by various CBOs and student organizations, has directed all Heads of institutes not to collect admission fees from students of Government schools beyond the prescribed fees. Taking cognize of the admission  issue very seriously, the DDSE has asked all schools to strictly adhere to fee structure set by government order for Higher/secondary level schools and elementary level schools for academic session 2020-21 and added, “failure to adhere to said circular may be viewed seriously”.

When contacted, Capital Region, DDSE,  Mallo Yam Gollo told that she has directed all schools in the capital to follow the government notification after she came to know that few schools are charging more than prescribed admission fees.
DDSE said she is aware that some schools in the capital are collecting Rs 300 per student but maintained that it is less than the fees being charged in other areas.
 Meanwhile, DDSE also revealed that the admission process for the session 2020-2021 is in full swing, although the turnout for the admission process is low,  most likely due to the Covid 19 situation.
"I have called a meeting of all the heads of Higher /Secondary School on Friday and all the issues will be discussed there," she said. The DDSE  revealed that there are about 76 government schools in the entire capital region, which includes 5 HS and 7 secondary  schools.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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