T’puram/Kochi: The state ’s CBSE schools have urged the Kerala government to lift the comprehensive ban on fees collection for students during the lockdown period.
The Council of CBSE schools, Kerala, urged the government in a memorandum to CM Pinarayi Vijayan to allow these schools to collect fees from those who are willing and able to pay.
A complete ban would threaten the existence of institutions that are struggling to pay staff salaries. In the context of the lockdown, CM has stated that during this crisis, no independent school should not charge students for fees.
It is customary for CBSE schools to collect the fee dues for the academic session in March. The memo says that the money collected in this way is used to pay salary expenses during March and summer vacations (April and May) because fresh fees can only be charged when the school reopens in June.
“We understand that the intention is to assist the needy. We would like to suggest, those who can pay the fees may be allowed to remit the fees through electronic modes,” the memorandum says.
At the same time, Kerala CBSE School Management Association has sent a letter to Vijayan asking them to charge the final semester fee. The association said that if no fees are charged (which is the only source of income for schools without assistance), the government’s decision will not be able to honor the instructions for teaching and non-teaching staff.
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