Legislators take up issue of exorbitant school fees

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 16:  The issue of exorbitant fees charged by private schools in the state came up for discussion during the budget session of the Assembly here today.

Taking up the issue during the Question Hour here today, UDP legislator from Nongthymmai Jemino Mawthoh said that parents spend half their investment into their children’s education.

Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Education, Prof RC Laloo informed that the department is seized of the matter and an Enquiry Committee has been constituted to examine commercialization of education.

Laloo said the committee constituted in April last year was given the task of looking into the complaints of collection of exorbitant fees by the private educatiol institutions in the state.

“The report of the committee is being examined by the Directorate,” Prof Laloo said.

The committee is being headed by W Challam, the District School Education Officer, Shillong, TM Pyngrope, Special Officer DSEL and LM Iangngap, Sub-Divisiol School Education Officer, Shillong.

When asked by Mawthoh on whether the government was contemplating to bring legislation on exorbitant fees charged by private schools, Prof Laloo said that the DSEL has written to all the SDSEOs for survey of school fees collected by different private educatiol. He informed that only the SDSEO Shillong had submitted its report and measures to be taken will be decided only after receiving reports from the other SDSEOs.

Mawthoh also wanted to know from the Deputy Chief Minister on the number of private schools that caters to the education of the disadvantaged group.

Prof Laloo informed that the government does not have record but as per the RTE Act schools have to cater to the disadvantaged groups.

“As per the Act, 25 percent of seats should be earmarked for the disadvantaged group,” Prof Laloo said.

Meanwhile, Independent legislator from Tura South John Leslee K Sangma sought to whether the government can stop the “use and throw textbook policy” of schools.

“This policy adopted by private schools allows no scope for siblings to reuse the same textbooks making parents to buy textbooks every year,” Sangma said.