NE EDUCATION BUREAU
CHENNAI, MARCH 28
Stating that over 20,000 private schools in Tamil Nadu have not received fee reimbursements for the free admissions given under the 25 percent Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota for two academic years driving them into dire fiscal straits, their umbrella body has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order the release of this fund.
The schools under the banner of Tamilnadu Nursery Primary Matriculation Higher Secondary and CBSE Schools Association have stated that their members impart education to over 7 lakh EWS students under the Right To Education (RTE) Act. Despite their repeated pleas with the authorities concerned, they have not received the reimbursements for the two consecutive years – 2018-19 and 2019-20 – putting a question mark over their survival, said its general secretary K R Nadhakumar on Saturday.
In their letters sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Minister for Human Resource Development (MHRD), K.R. Nandhakumar, state general secretary, Tamilnadu Nursery Primary Matriculation Higher Secondary and CBSE Schools Association said: “We bring this alarming issue to your notice that we are a group of 20,000 private schools in Tamilnadu providing quality education to more than one crore students. We are providing education to more than 7 lakh students under the RTE Act trusting that the fund will be released from the Government’s side.”
In the memorandum, Nandhakumar added that due to the backlog of RTE reimbursements for the last two academic years 2018-19 and 2019-2020, we are in virtual jeopardy. The school managements were unable to disburse salary to the teaching and non-teaching staff in time. Keeping in mind the untold misery of the private school managements, the association urges the Central and State Governments to clear the backlog. The timely reimbursements will encourage the management to admit more students under the RTE Act.
Cascading effect of COVID-19 on fee collection
Due to the coronavirus threat and the lockdown, the schools have been closed without conducting final exams from grade 1 to 9 as per the state government orders. Owing to this our member-schools couldn’t collect the balance fees from general students.
Seeks exemption from property tax
Keeping in mind the financial stress of the private school managements, the association appeals to exempt levy of property tax on private educational institutions, as it is collected only in Tamilnadu.
The hands of the private school managements are tied-up, as they can’t collect fees as per their whims and fancies. The quantum of fees for LKG to Standard XII are fixed by the committee appointed by the state government, Nandakumar said.
Demands more sops
School vehicles that are non-operational for continuously for 3 months should be exempted from getting the fitness certificates from RTO and payment of road tax and vehicle insurance, the memorandum said.
“We request the state and central governments to consider our appeal to extend the interest-free loan for 6 months. The admissions for the new academic year have been put on hold and we could not collect the remaining fees from students due to sudden lockdown of schools over corona outbreak.”
The association welcomed the exempting EPF payments and postponing of CBSE, KV Schools, and NEET & JEE Exam.
