Page 21 - EW July 2021 final

by unpaid volunteers who are likely immediately constitute a fees
to be BJP and RSS foot soldiers. The fixation committee headed by
design is to introduce hindutva tenets a retired high court judge to
and lifestyles into local communities resolve this issue,” says B.N.
and education institutions. The BJP Yogananda, general secre-
claims it is the world’s largest political tary, RTE Students & Parents
party, larger than the 100 million Chi- Association (RTE-STUPA).
nese Communist Party. The happiness On the other hand, spokes-
programmes are part of its agenda to persons of the state’s 21,000
increase its membership,” says a Bho- private unaided schools say
pal-based academic, who preferred to that 30-40 percent of parents
remain anonymous. have not paid their children’s
Yet the moot point is whether fees for the past year 2020-21,
politics and happiness can mix. Most Shashi Kumar: precarious condition and fees arrears owing to pri-
academics believe they are mutually vate schools have accumulated
exclusive. court seeking permission to consti- to a massive Rs.4,000-5,000 crore.
Aditi Maheshwari (Bhopal) tute a panel headed by a retired high They contend that private schools,
court judge to determine fees for especially affordable budget private
KARNATAKA all categories of private schools in schools (BPS), are on the brink of fi-
Wrong priority the state for the new academic year nancial bankruptcy with most unable
to pay teachers and staff. They warn
2021-22, and to “grant it liberty” to
initiate action against private schools that over 3,000 BPS will have to shut
ven as the new academic year disregarding the January 29 fees down permanently if the restric-
2021-22 commenced from restriction order. tive 70 percent tuition fee order is
EJuly 1 with online education Responding, private schools as- extended to 2021-22.
decreed compulsory for all of Kar- sociations’ counsel argued before Taking advantage of the pandem-
nataka’s 76,800 schools including a single judge bench that the state “ic, the government first stopped
48,393 government primary-second- government lacks legal authority all private schools from raising annu-
aries, the stalemate over fees payable to regulate fees of unaided private al fees by the conventional 10-15 per-
to private schools for 2020-21 and schools and highlighted that, while cent. Next in January 2021, it issued
the new academic year is unresolve. on one hand, the government had the 70 percent tuition fees directive
In February, several private decreed a reduced fee it had simul- applicable to 2020-21. Now it wants
schools associations filed writ peti- taneously directed all private school to set up a fees fixation committee to
tions in the Karnataka high court managements to pay full salaries to interfere with parent-management
contesting the constitutional validity teachers and staff. After hearing both contracts. More than 30 percent
of a January 29 state government parties, Justice Magadum adjourned of parents have not paid even the
directive to all private schools — the hearing to July 22. reduced 70 percent tuition fees due
including schools affiliated with With a second Covid-19 pandemic for 2020-21. In such a situation how
pan-India CBSE and CISCE exam wave having pushed the state into can private school managements af-
boards — statewide to collect only 70 a 46-day industry and business ford to provide online education and
percent of tuition (and no other) fees lockdown in May-June, parents as- pay teachers and staff?” queries D.
for the academic year ended April sociations have upped their ante and Shashi Kumar, general secretary
2021. demanded that the state government of the Associated Managements of
This directive was issued after applies the 70 percent of tuition-fee- Primary and Secondary Schools in
parents’ associations contended only order to the new academic year Karnataka (KAMS, estb.1989), which
that private schools’ fees should be as well, and constitute a school fees has a membership of 3,900 mainly
reduced because online classes are of adjudication committee. budget private schools.
shorter duration and schools are not “Most extra-curricular and sports According to Kumar, in a land-
providing co-curricular and sports activities have been halted since mark judgement delivered on May 3
education. Moreover, parents claim classes went online and schools have in Indian School Jodhpur & Ors. vs.
they have suffered loss of income saved on these expenses. Private State Government of Rajasthan, the
and often employment during the school managements can meet their Supreme Court struck down a similar
pandemic year. teachers and staff wage bill by col- private schools fees reduction order
On June 29, the state government lecting 70 percent of annual fees. We of the Rajasthan state government,
made a plea to the Karnataka high demand that the state government ruling that the right to determine

JULY 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 21