DC holds meet with school heads on stalling of fees

HP NEWS SERVICE
Tura, Jun 30: West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh had convened a meeting with the officials of the Education Department and heads of government schools, private schools and colleges to discuss matters regarding school and hostel fees of government, government aided and private schools due to the lockdown.
During the meeting held at DRDA Conference Hall yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner briefed participants that in view of the prevailing situation due to the spread of Covid-19 and post lockdown, opening of schools and colleges are still restricted and the State government had issued new order with regard to the fee structure and collection of fees in the schools and colleges.
In this regard, he informed that the State government had issued an order for maintenance of status quo on all fees from the last academic session 2019 to 2020 and for the year 2020-2021 in all institutions.
Moreover, as per the order, collecting of tuition fees is not allowed from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families or those directly impacted by the lockdown.
The order has led to the loss of income in government, government-aided, deficit and deficit pattern educational institutions for the months of March, April and May, 2020.
Meanwhile, Singh also informed that all the government, government-aided and privately owned hostels in the State have to stop charging rent from students during the period of lockdown beginning from April, 2020 till further order and if any hostel proprietor is found violating the directions, he/she shall be liable for action under the provisions of Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Regulations framed thereunder.
With regard to the ongoing online classes, Singh said that those schools conducting online classes are doing well in spite of various challenges including connectivity issues especially in rural areas.
Apart from online class, he advised the teachers to instruct and guide the students to read and learn by themselves from text books regularly and ensure that assignments are done properly adding that those having elder or younger siblings to teach and learn from each other as required.