Relaxation in school fees for Odisha students; here’re details

Bhubaneswar: In a big relief for students and parents, Odisha Government has directed all aided and unaided private schools in the state to reduce fees in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is pertinent to mention here that parents’ associations across the state had been demanding reduction of school fees  since long following closure of all educational institutions due to the pandemic.

As per a notification issued by the School and Mass Education Department yesterday, the relaxation in fees will be done in seven slabs:  7.5 % for school fees ranging between Rs 6,001 and Rs 12,000 per annum, 12 % for fees remaining between Rs 12,001 and Rs 24,000,  15 % for fees between Rs 24,001 to Rs 48,000, 20 % for school fees of Rs 48,001- Rs 72,000, 25 % for Rs 72,001 -Rs 1 lakh fees and 26 % for fees remaining above Rs 1 lakh per annum,  

Besides, schools cannot charge students for food and transport. However, 30 % waiver will be given on hostel fees.

Last year, parents association,  MD Mustaq and Prahallad Rout had filed PILs in the Orissa High Court seeking waiver of fees of private schools due to the pandemic. While the state Government had claimed that it had no power to regulate fees fixed by private schools, the association had argued that the resolution issued by the department concerned on September 23, 1996, which is in vogue, gives the state the power to regulate fees being charged by private schools.