Coronavirus Lockdown: Jammu Administration Defers Fee Payment to Private Schools

With the entire country under a 21-day lockdown, schools and institutions have also been closed to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, private school administrations in Jammu seem remarkably insensitive, triggering panic among parents. Private schools in the Jammu division of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have issued notices to parents, asking them to pay the annual fees online. Few schools had even mentioned the March 30 and April 1 as dates for the final fee submission.

The callousness has left parents worried. “In a time of crisis, we are worried about arranging meals for the day while private school management is not bothered about the hardships we face. We are not running away from paying fees but they should understand that saving lives is more important in this hour of crisis,” said Ravinder, whose son studies at a private school in Jammu.

Even though schools have provided for fees to be paid online, parents told NewsClick that not everyone knows how to access the platform. “We were thinking that school management will ease our burden but it has further increased our woes. What is the government and the administration doing? Why is it not doing anything to stop these private schools from charging fees? Are we running off anywhere?” asked another parent.

Parents had appealed to the schools to withdraw the order. “We didn’t receive any response from the school administration. So, we have complained to higher authorities. We have appealed to the education department to take strict action against private schools for this unnecessary move to collect fees during these times,” said a parent, requesting anonymity.

Taking cognisance of the complaints, the School Education Department of Jammu issued an order on March 30 to private schools and government schools alike.

The order reads: "Whereas, taking cognizance of the issue in the interest of public and students and their parents in particular, it is ordered that the last day to deposit school fees is extended upto 30 April, 2020 without any late fees and no school shall either charge any fee for the online lecture/assignments or shall link the result of the child on the basis of home assignment. The management bodies of CBSE / BOSE affiliated private schools of UT of Jammu & Kashmir are directed to issue appropriate directions in this regard (sic)."

“I am really grateful to the education department for acknowledging our woes. We received the notices two days ago and swift action was the need of the hour,” said a parent.

And it has not happened just in Jammu. In Bengaluru, the department of primary and secondary education has asked for a delay in the admission process after parents complained that some private schools were insisting on them paying up amid the lockdown.

The Himachal Pradesh government has also asked private schools affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and state board for a halt on fees payment for the new academic year given the current crisis.