AMSU to launch agitation on school fees issue

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 13: The All Manipur Students’ Union has denounced the October 5 order of the Government which enabled private schools to collect fees from the students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
AMSU said they will launched democratic forms of agitation if the Government fails to respond to their appeals.
Speaking to media persons at AMSU HQ, its HRD secretary, Bruce Pebam said the order has failed to consider the plight of the students and parents who are facing immense hardships since the beginning of the lockdown in March/April.
The order had enabled private schools to collect 30 percent of the monthly fees from the student from the month of April to pay half the salaries of the teachers. As the lockdown had crippled the means of earning income for the parents and guardians for months, they are facing immense hardship in paying the fees, he said adding that the private schools had successfully collected admission fees before COVID-19 crisis.
Denouncing the October order, he further stated that the Government should stand by its earlier ‘order to refrain schools from collecting fees.’
Following the order many schools are now asking parents of the students to pay tuition fees and many which had collected excess percentage of fees are yet to reimburse the excess amount to the students, he added.
The Government and authorities concerned should arrive at an agreement which is acceptable to all the stakeholders.   Until an amicable solution is reached by way of consulting the stakeholders, private schools should not be allowed to collect tuition fees from the students, he added.
He also appealed to schools not to pressurise the parents on paying the tuition fees considering the hardship parents and guardians are going through because of the COVID-19.
If the Government fails to hear its appeals, AMSU will be holding democratic forms of agitation, he said.