PANJIM: A step that could provide major relief to the parents during the current COVID pandemic, the State Government has decided not to permit any school fee hike for the academic year 2020-21 to private schools. It has also decided to roll back the hike permitted till date.
Directorate of Education (DoE) in a circular issued on Wednesday has directed management of all the unaided primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in the State not to hike school fees for the current academic year and also to waive off the Activity Fees in respect to all the students.
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The department has admitted that it had granted permissions to some private schools to hike their fees for the current term.
“In order to maintain equality the government has decided not to permit any fee hike for 2020-21 and roll back the hike permitted till date,” Director of Education Vandana Rao said in the circular.
She said that the department received several complaints and calls from parents, whose wards are going to unaided schools regarding fees levied by them during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, wherein it is claimed that the fees have been increased without prior notice or information to the parents.
Goa’s private schools charge fees ranging from Rs 1-1.5 lakh, every year, per child, with annual hike in most cases.
Rao said that the issue was discussed with the parents and school authorities. “Some of the unaided schools had taken the approval for fee structure for the academic year 2020-21 from the department before and some of them after COVID-19 crisis,” she admitted.
“Therefore, the fees charged from the students for the academic year 2020-21 should be same that of fees charged during academic year 2019-20 if approved. In case any school had not got their fee structure approved for the last academic term, then they have to get the same approved,” the Director said.
Along with waiving off Activity Fees, the schools are directed not to collect any transportation charges until the transportation actually commences.
