From a Correspondent
Dibrugarh, June 10: The district committee of All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union (AASKSU) alleged that at the time when education was being given the primary choice of importance by the State Government, the incident of a private school in the district conducting business in the me of education has come to light.
AASKSU members said that Saint Xavier’s School, which is located at Tepor Gaon , just 2 km away from the residence of Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, has been accused of forcibly taking money from the parents and guardians of the students.
In a press communique, the president and secretary of AASKSU, Santanu Sonowal and Ritupar Baruah, respectively, stated that at the time when directives were being issued for curtailing the fees of the students studying in private schools of the State, the high-handedness of the school authorities of Saint Xavier’s School was unjustified. Without having any formal meeting with the parents, Saint Xavier’s School authorities allegedly have asked the parents of the students to submit compulsory issuance of signed cheques of Federal Bank in the school office. Meanwhile, all the parents have been forced to pay Rs 15,000 against each student.
When the parents, most of them not being fincially stable, tried to enquire as to why in the middle session of the year, a hike of Rs 15,000 had been made in the me of school fees, the authorities of Saint Xavier’s School informed that as per direction from the district administration, the cheque of Rs 15,000 was being taken, the press release stated.
Terming the decision as a deterrent factor for the future of their children, the disheartened parents decided to meet the Deputy Commissioner to get a detailed picture of the entire matter. It was later informed by the parents that a demand was made for involvement of the Deputy Commissioner and holding of a public meeting between the Saint Xavier’s School authorities, Deputy Commissioner and the parents. But regrettably, till date neither the district administration nor the school authority had given any significant importance to the entire issue.
Both the student leaders said that mental punishment was being meted out in the me of monthly fees, examition fees and other additiol fees, and by imposing mandatory rules for buying of gifts for teacher’s birthday, celebration of Father’s birthday by Saint Xavier’s School, the school authorities had shammed the education system.
Through the press communique, the AASKSU leaders Santanu Sonowal and Ritupar Baruah further informed that the in the coming days more such cases of irregularities within the school would be brought to light after which a memorandum demanding necessary action against Saint Xavier’s School authorities would be submitted to the Chief Minister and State Education Minister, the press release stated.