Assam: Govt asks private institutions to slash fees of pre-primary to Class 12 students by 25%

Guwahati: Owing to the ongoing pandemic situation, the Government of Assam has urged the private educational institutions in the state to offer at least 25% concessions in monthly fees (pre-primary to XII), from May 1, 2020, till the formal opening of schools.

"In view of #COVID19 pandemic, we've advised all private educational institutions to offer at least 25% concessions in monthly fees (pre-primary to XII), from May 1, 2020, till the formal opening of schools. These institutions are saving substantial expenditure under various heads", Assam's education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote in a tweet.

In a notification, the Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, Education Department, said that the institutions must give fee relaxation as they are saving substantial amounts on various fronts such as: energy charges on electrical consumption, fuel cost for transportation, maintenance of vehicles, cost of meals in the case of residential and day-boarding schools, maintenance of swimming pools and gyms, reduction in the cost of cleaning, reduction in the cost of organizing events.

Adding that "the non-governmental education institutes are saving substantial expenditures on various heads" as "they have started online classes through various digital devices", the notice urged the institutions to take note of the plight of the students' parents.

"It is expected that these educational institutions will stand behind to minimize the miseries of the parents/guardians of the students studying in their educational institutions", the notice said.

In the notification, the Government of Assam directed "all the educational institutions established and run by an association of individuals or society or trusts, etc and to the concerned parents, to follow a certain set of guidelines with "immediate effect."

"Thus, every educational institution as mentioned above has to waive 25% of their monthly school/fees exclusively meant from the month of May 2020 till the formal and physical opening", it said.

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