Parents protesting in front of the gate Grace Ling Liang English School, Kolkata (Photo Maeeshat)

Maeeshat | Kolkata

Parents demonstrate before school demanding ‘justified’ fees in COVID-19 time demanding 50 percent waiver of tuition fees, parents of students of a private school in Kolkata intensified their protest on Monday. The demonstration was held at the entrance of Grace Ling Liang English School in South Kolkata.

“We protested today to demand that unjustified and irrational components of fees be suspended. Many parents are undergoing hardships because of the lockdown and the school authority are not reducing neither session fees nor tuition fees,” said Nilofer Khatoon, a parent.

There has been a series of protests in the past one month against hike in school fees in different parts of the city, and the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked private schools not to hike fees, considering the difficulties.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee had also repeatedly asked private schools to refrain from increasing tuition fee and not charge fees under other heads in the present situation.

“The school authority is reluctant to talk with us regarding the school fee. They have deployed police officials to restrict us meeting the principal. We urge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to tell school school authority not make extracurricular activities (ECA) mandatory and charge for stationery items till the school reopens and should consider waiver of session fees in this time of crisis,” said Rashid Parvez, another parent.

When Maeeshat correspondent met the school authority, a staff said, “The parents are making a fuss out of nothing. We are looking into the issue. The governing body will deal with it.”