Fracas over payment of school fees for lockdown months AMSU bans 6 schools for ‘collecting’ fees

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 28: For ‘collecting’ tuition fees for the months of lockdown even as there is a deadlock with the Government over the issue, AMSU has put a temporary ban on six schools.
In a statement today, AMSU (All Manipur Students’ Union) said the temporary ban has been imposed on Meci Explorer Academy, Changangei; Paree Imom Sindam Shang, Langjing; Tiny Tots' Unique School, Dewlahland; Bright Foundation School, Thoubal Kshetri Leikai; St Xavier’s School, Moirang and MEM Higher Secondary School, Ghari for going ‘against’ the interest of the public by ‘collecting’ tuition fees amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
AMSU said it had received a number of complaints from parents and guardians that they were being pressured to pay tuition fees. When investigated, AMSU found that the schools had collected tuition fees and put pressure on the parents and guardians of the students to pay. Hence, the ban was imposed on the schools, it said.
Without stating how long the ‘ban’ will stay, AMSU said it will continue to monitor and investigate such complaints and impose ban on the schools if they are found collecting tuition fees for the months of lockdown.
It may be noted here that the Education Department in September had allowed the private and Government aided schools to collect 30 percent of monthly tuition fees from the students for the months of lockdown.
Subsequently, AMSU had denounced the order and demanded that the order be revoked. It had also held meetings with authorities and teachers of private schools regarding the matter and urged them not to collect the tuition fees until a solution is reached with the Government on the issue.