Odisha Parents Seek School Fee Waiver from PM and CM

Bhubaneswar: The Parents Association of Odisha has requested both the State and the Central government to waive-off the school fee. It has also requested them to withdraw orders of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) directing the deputy commissioners of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) to collect fee for the first quarter (April – June 2020) during the lockdown.

The letter dated May 12 from the Assistant Commissioner of Finance AK Srivastava, to all the deputy commissioners of KVs said, “The collection of fees for the first quarter will commence from May 22 to June 21, 2020 without any late payment fee. Thereafter, fee for the second quarter will be collected as per the existing schedule.”

Since many parents are facing several financial problems due to COVID-19 pandemic, depositing school fees including different fees like readmission, day-boarding, AC fee, establishment fee, transport fees etc to schools is adding to the mental and emotional burden of the parents, the Association said in its letter to the government and other ministers.

Meanwhile, several private schools have also declared some waiver of fees, but the Centre’s notice for the fee is illegal and unethical, the letter added.

In this regard, the association wants the government to issue another order to waive-off all the fees of this quarter related to KVs, to shed off the parents’ burden, said the letter.