Resolve school fee dispute immediately, writes Siddu to CM BSY

Bengaluru: Opposition leader Siddaramaiah has urged the government to immediately resolve the conflict between parents and school managements over fees.

In a letter, Siddaramaiah has told the chief minister to decide on the concessionary fees that parents have to pay and the decision of the government should be strictly enforced. Adding that the salary of teaching and non-teaching staff that are withheld must be released.

Siddaramaiah further urges the government to take seriously the issue of interest on debt to be paid by schools to banks during the COVID-19 period and take steps to reduce the burden on them.

Children have been unable to attend school since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents were demanding that private school and colleges reduce fees. In response to their pressure, the government last year ordered a 30 per cent reduction in fees. But the order has not been implemented.

“The government sitting idle in such a situation and bending to lobby groups is not right. What action has been taken against private educational institutions that did not comply with government orders? What action has been taken in cases where schools did not admit the children for the next academic year due to non-payment of fees?” Siddaramaiah stated in the letter.