Fees still condition for free textbooks

Authorities of different schools have continued taking money as fees including that for admission from the students during distribution of government-sponsored free textbooks.

Visiting Dighapatia PN High School yesterday morning, this correspondent found teachers taking Tk 520 to Tk 610 under different heads including session charge, sports fee and milad mahfil fee from students during the distribution of new textbooks.

Some other high schools also taking Tk 200 to Tk 300 as session charge from students during textbook distribution.

"I came to the school on Sunday and Monday for admission and also for the new textbooks. But, the teachers asked me to go back home and bring Tk 520," said Sabbir Kazi, a newly admitted Class IX student of Dighapatia PN School.

Kadeza Begum, mother of Sabbir Kazi, said, "My husband is a poor rickshaw-van puller and he failed to manage Tk 520. But my son was crying to get new books. So I took a loan from a neighbour and arranged his admission today [Tuesday]."

While visiting different schools like Sher-e-Bangla High School of Natore Sadar upazila and Sailkona High School of Bagatipara upazila yesterday morning, this correspondent found the teachers taking Tk 200 to Tk 300 under different heads including session charge, sports fee and milad mahfil fee from students during the distribution of new textbooks.

Ali Akram, headmaster of Sailkona High School, said, "We are taking Tk 300 as session fees."

Quazi Atiur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner (Education) of Natore, said, "We are investigating the matter. Action will be taken if anyone is found guilty of anomalies regarding distribution of free textbooks."

Sheikh Shah Alam, Natore Sadar upazila secondary education officer, said he asked a headmaster over mobile phone about the matter and the latter denied taking any money from the students during the book distribution.