MP PR Natarajan request probe by District Collector as educational institutions compel for fee
Coimbatore: Complaints have been received from parents that private educational institutions are forcing parents to pay tuition fee immediately, even though all the educational centres are closed due to the curfew. "District Collector and Education Officers should immediately intervene to stop this illegal act" urged Coimbatore MP PR Natarajan.
The Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu have strictly announced that schools should not charge students during the curfew. Moreover, holidays for schools have been announced. Private schools are required to hand over the school premises to the state for disaster management.
In this context, it is shocking to know that self-funded private schools are forcing parents to pay and that online education will be offered to students who pay such fees. It also appears that students who do not pay fees are intimidated by expulsion threats and they will not be able to attend school in the next school year.
MP PR Natarajan said "schools have asked teachers to come over for administration works and have failed to pay them their salaries. He said private school administrators must recognize that all this is illegal and must change their course of action.
He added, the district administration, including the district's chief education officer, should pay extra attention to advising the school administration not to open any part of the school, including the school office, without government approval. The District Collector must ensure that all the schools follow the administrative directives of the Tamil Nadu State without discrimination as to whether it is the central curriculum or the state curriculum.
In the press release, MP PR Natrajan said, "I request that the district administrator grant a written guarantee that all employees, including the teacher, will be paid and that students will not be forced to pay until the curfew is withdrawn and the schools reopened."