K’taka private schools cannot charge more than 70% fees: Minister

Bengaluru, Jan 30 : Karnataka Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar said on Friday that parents can pay only 70 per cent of the tuition fees fixed by the private schools and the schools should not charge development fees or library fees this academic year.
The decision comes after protests by parents’ associations who have been opposing private schools sticking to their fee structure even during the pandemic year, where schools conducted only online classes and a section of parents have incurred financial losses.
The parents had even threatened to stage a massive protest on Saturday demanding the state government’s intervention, while the private school managements had threatened to discontinue the online classes for students who failed to pay the fees.
The Minister told reporters that all the private schools, irrespective of which board they follow, will be allowed to charge only 70 per cent of the tuition fee collected last year for the current academic year.
“The schools cannot collect any other fee but the reduced tuition fee. However, we welcome any school that voluntarily reduces the fee further. In fact, many private schools had implemented for a 25 to 30 per cent reduction in fee,” he said.
Kumar also said that the schools should make provision for payment of the tuition fee in three instalments. “If any parent has already paid the full amount of the fees this year, the excess amount paid can be adjusted for the next academic year,” he said.