Private Schools Stop Online Classes After Gujarat Government's ‘No Fee’ Order

Source: Hindustan Times

In Gujarat, private schools have stopped online classes for an unspecified time after the state government ordered that schools are not permitted to collect fees from parents till schools are opened.

The Gujarat government, in a notification last week, instructed the self-financed schools not to collect fees from parents till school starts functioning which has been shut since the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Hike in school fees is also restricted for the academic year 2020-21.

Being disappointed with the government’s decision, nearly 15000 schools have withdrawn themselves from conducting online classes during the pandemic period. The schools informed the parents through SMS on Wednesday night that they shall not be continuing with the online classes from Thursday.

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“If the government believes online education is not real education, then there is no meaning of imparting such unreal education to our students. Online education will remain suspended until the government withdraws that notification,” Dipak Rajyaguru, Self-financed School Management Association’s spokesperson said in a statement.
“Self-financed schools need to pay salaries to the teachers and other staff. No state in India has taken such a decision that fees cannot be collected despite conducting online classes. If we adhere to the state notification, it will be impossible for us to pay salaries and run the school.

   Thus, we have decided to suspend the online classes,” said Jatin Bharad, an established educationist and member of the association.