Dispur limits fees of private schools; New slabs from 2021-22

GUWAHATI: Finally, the State Education department has fixed the rates of students' fees in the non-government (private) schools across the State. The new fees fixation has provisions for the State Education department to levy fines and also initiate various punitive measures including withdrawal of registration, and also affiliation.

A notification issued by the Principal Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, B Kalyan Chakravarthy said that from the academic year 2021-22, while guardians of students studying in the pre-primary stage up to Class-V will have to pay Rs 27,000 annually, and of those studying from Classes VI to X will have to pay Rs 32,000 annually.

In the technical streams, guardians of students studying in Classes XI & XII (Science) will have to pay Rs 37,000; Rs 32,000 (Arts), Rs 33,000 (Commerce), and Rs 35,000 (other streams) annually.

The total fees include admission fees, tuition fees, building-development fees, sports fees etc., but does not include the transportation fees.

The notification further says that if any school charges less than the amount fixed by the Department, they will be exempted from the fees determination but they will have to obtain the 'Exemption Certificate' from the Fees Regulatory Committee.

On the contrary, if any school charges more than the amount fixed, they will be required to submit proposals for approval and fixation of fees in accordance with the provisions of the 'Assam Non Government Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act-2018'.

In the event of contravention of the rates fixed by the Department, the schools concerned will have to pay fines up to Rs 5 lakh for the first contravention, up to Rs 10 lakh for the second contravention and cancellation or withdrawal of registration/affiliation/NOC (no objection certificates) of the schools in case of the third contravention.

What is even more stringent is that no Civil Court shall have the jurisdiction to deal with or decide any question which the Fees Regulatory Committee or, as the case may be, the Fees Revision Committee, is empowered to deal with or decide under the Act, the notification said. No injunction shall be granted by any Civil Court in respect of any action taken under or to be taken in pursuance of any of the provisions of the Act, the notification added.

The move seems to give succour to the parents who have long been demanding the State government to regulate the fees structures of the private schools. The issue was raked up on the floor of the State Assembly many a time during the 15-year regime of Tarun Gogoi.

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