Can’t debar students from classes for not paying fees: Nagaland CS

Kohima: Nagaland chief secretary J Alam on Wednesday notified that no school management shall debar any student from attending either class (online and offline) or appearing in examinations on account of non-payment of fees arrears and outstanding fees, including instalments.

Schools cannot withhold the results of the examinations of students for non-payment of fees as well. The chief secretary issued an advisory in the interest of the student community on account of the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 induced lockdown.

The advisory is targeted towards individuals, societies and organisations running private schools and unaided private institutions in Nagaland.

Through the advisory, the chief secretary informed that fees/charges may not be imposed for activities and facilities that are not utilised during the closure of schools. School managements have also been advised to consider granting fee concession to needy deserving students in the respective schools during the closure of schools, if not already done.

Requests made by parents and guardians for fee waivers on account of economic difficulties are also advised to be sympathetically considered on a case-to-case basis. Schools are advised to provide access to online education, material, and classes to students, without any discrimination.

“Heads of schools shall in no case deny ID and Password to students/parents for getting online access of educational facilities/classes/materials on account of their inability to pay school fees due to financial crisis during a lockdown or due to death of bread earner of family/earning parent of the child due to COVID-19,” the CS added.

The response of the chief secretary comes after the Northern Angami Students Union (NASU) had submitted a four-point representation to the government last month.

The student body had earlier urged the state government to pass an order directing all unaided recognised private institutions to waive off a certain per cent of the tuition fees for unutilised facilities until the resumption of formal or physical classes.

The student body had also urged the institutions/schools not to debar students from attending exams and online classes on account of non-payment of fees, arrears or outstanding fees.

Another point that NASU sought from the state government was for the institutions/schools not to withhold results of examinations of any student on account of non-payment of fees, arrears or outstanding fees.

It had also urged the institutions/schools to consider the requests made by parents of the students who are finding it difficult to remit annual fees due to financial/economic hardships caused by the lockdown.