DIMAPUR, MAY 19 (MExN): The National Students Union of India (NSUI) Nagaland branch has issued a series of measures to ensure proper education of students during this pandemic while also looking into the financial well being of parents and educators.
A press release from the union’s Nagaland branch pointed out that while online classes have been adopted in most institutions, there is a huge underlying problem due to poor network connectivity. It therefore asked network service providers to provide seamless internet connectivity at least during the lockdown period to ensure that online classes are not disrupted at any cost. For the middle and primary classes and those from least privileged background, in case online classes are not a viable option, the school authority should ensure that hard copies of study materials are prepared and made available at very reasonable rates, the NSUI said.
Taking into account the plight of most of the private school/college teachers who gets paid a meagre salary of Rs. 5000-10000 per month, the NSUI said that it will be unjust to demand the waiving of school/college fees.
However, superfluous expenditures maybe cut and the same be refunded to the students, it suggested. It informed that several institutions are “heavily burdening the parents with amount ranging from Rs. Rs 200-1000 being charged under various heads.”
Activities such as annual sports, teachers day, parents day, children’s day, fresher’s/parting social, retreats, study tour/exposure trip etc maybe be cancelled and the amount for the same be adjusted with the school/college fees, it suggested.
Other expenditures such as laboratory fee, computer fee, library fee, ANPSA charges, welfare fund, school/college development/maintenance fee may also be curbed and adjusted with the school/college fees, the union added.
Further, considering the job losses due to the pandemic and the plight of parents from poor economic backgrounds, the NSUI asked school/college authorities not to pressurize such parents to pay fees on time.
“Instead try to identify such parents and strategize ways such as extending the deadline or paying the fees in installment basis till such time they're able to pay in full,” it advised.
Meanwhile, it asked the State Government to pay the private teachers who are getting salary below Rs. 10000 with an upfront of Rs. 5000 as one-time payment to meet the exigencies arising out of the pandemic.
