Pvt Schools in Mizoram to charge only 50% fees

Newmai News Network

Aizawl | May 5

The problems surrounding the school fee issue in Mizoram during the lockdown was resolved on Tuesday following the agreement between the concerned parties.

It was agreed upon among the Mizoram government, the private school association, student bodies and other stakeholders that only 50% of school fees will be charged by the institutions from the students during the lockdown.

It may be recalled that problems had cropped up between the Mizoram Independent School Association (MISA), an umbrella body of all private schools in the state, and the student organizations of Mizoram after the private schools took a decision to charge fees from students during the lockdown.

Reacting to this development, the student bodies of Mizoram had urged private schools in Mizoram not to charge fees from students during the lockdown.

The students’ bodies then expressed its resentment on the decision of the private schools’ body saying that it was unreasonable from the part of the private school authorities.

The student bodies had also urged the private school authorities to reconsider its decision to charge fees from students during the lockdown. The student bodies had said that students, especially from the poor families will face immense hardship during this trying time.

Mizoram Student Union (MSU) had asked the Mizoram government to intervene on the issue as soon as possible.
It was reported earlier that the private school body of Mizoram had decided to charge fees from students during lockdown saying that private schools have to pay their employees.

Amidst this issue, all private and church run schools in Mizoram will charge only 50 per cent of school fees from students during the lockdown period.

A meeting was held on Tuesday with officials of the Education department, student bodies, Mizoram Independent School Association (MISA) and other stakeholders in participation under the leadership of Mizoram Education minister Lalchhandama Ralte.

According to the decision of the meeting, besides charging only 50% of fees during the lockdown, the participants of the meeting also agreed upon that those schools which had already charged full monthly fees for April should not charge for the month of May from students.

It can be noted here that since March 17, the Mizoram government had closed all educational institutions as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.