Odisha Govt Orders 15% Cut In School Fees

Bhubaneswar: In line with a recent Supreme Court judgment, Odisha’s School and Mass Education Department has directed both aided and un-aided private schools to reduce schools fees due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government has asked the schools that have signed a MoU in this regard to follow the Orissa High Court verdict and implement the waiver as per the agreed terms stated in its notification dated January 19, 2021.

The remaining schools in the state shall collect fees for the academic year 2019-20 with a 15% cut for the academic year 2020-21.

For parents who have already paid the full fees, the respective school management will adjust the sum in subsequent instalments.

The department has also asked various Parents Associations and School Management Authorities to strictly adhere to the Supreme Court guidelines issued on May 3.

The guidelines

i) The school management of the private unaided school concerned shall collect annual fees from their students for the academic year 2019-20, but by providing deduction of 15 per cent on that amount in lieu of unutilised facilities by the students during the relevant period of the academic year 2020-21.

ii) The amount so payable by the students concerned should be paid in six equal monthly instalments before August 5, 2021

iii) Regardless of the above, it will be open to the schools concerned to give further concession to their students or to evolve a different pattern for giving concession over and above those noted in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

iv) The school management shall not debar any student from attending either online classes or physical classes on account of non-payment of fees, arrears/outstanding fees including the instalments, referred to above, and shall not withhold the results of the examinations of any student on that account.

v) If any individual request is made by the parent/ward finding it difficult to remit annual fees for the academic year 2020-21 in the above terms, the school Management to consider such representation on case to case basis sympathetically.

vi) The above arrangement will not affect the collection of fees for the academic year 2021-22, as is payable by the students of the concerned school as and when it becomes due and payable.

vii) The school management shall not withhold the name of any student/candidate for the ensuing Board examinations for Classes X and XII on the ground of non-payment of fee/arrears for the academic year 2020-21, if any, on obtaining undertaking of the concerned parents/students.