Usually the first term in an academic year normally begins in june and ends in September. Many schools have also announced that they will be starting online classes for students from june first week. This is despite the government of Tamilnadu’s order on april 20, directing private schools and colleges in the state to not compel parents to pay the fee for the upcoming academic year or the dues related to the previous years. The order, which was passed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, also stated that no penalties shall be levied for late payment of fee during the lockdown period.
However, private schools in tamil Nadu continue to compel parents to pay up, with many sending messages and reminders through SMS, whatsapp and emails to the parents about the first-term fee.While parents are asking why private schools are demanding fees for online classes and miscellaneous expenses during the lockdown, schools are, in turn, criticising the state government for its lack of planning while passing the order. According to schools, it has not been able to pay salaries to its staff.
In many cases, parents have already paid anywhere upwards of Rs 30,000 for the first term, because the schools kept sending them reminders. Though the messages sent by the schools do not actively compel parents to pay the fees, linking it to children’s education always works in favour of the schools. Another major bone of contention between the parents and the schools is that the schools expect the parents to pay up extra fees, including transport and uniform. This has left many parents wondering why schools are charging when the students are not physically going to their classrooms.
