COVID-19: Assam govt directs all educational institutions not to increase fees

Guwahati, Apr 22 () Assam government has directedall educational institutions in the state not to increase feesduring the coronavirus pandemic and to waive fifty per centfees for the month of April from pre-primary to Class 12,Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

The educational institutions who have alreadycollected the fees meant for the month of April will adjustthe concession in the next month, the minister said at a pressconference here.

There shall be also no increase in the school feeswithout the prior approval of the government during thepandemic, he said.

At the same time, there shall be no curtailment ofsalaries of teachers and non-teaching staff, he added.

"The income of all citizens have been severelyaffected and this is a step to help people to tide over thecrisis", Sarma said.

A meeting of the Education department's fees committeewas held with school representatives and they have all agreedto it, he said,

"If schools remain closed till May 30, then there willbe a loss of 52 days which can be managed by having fullclasses on Saturdays, keeping schools opened and reducing thenumber of declared holidays", Sarma said.

It will be, however, difficult if schools remainclosed beyond that and "I have asked the Education departmentto make a contingency plan, in case of such a situation", theminister said.

"The teachers have to make sacrifices to save theacademic year and they are ready to do it", Sarma said,

Schools in Assam are closed since March 16 followingthe outbreak of Coronavirus. DGRG RG