Govt asks schools not to take readmission, dev fees from students

Government today asked all non-government secondary schools not to collect readmission, development, assignment, tiffin, laboratory, library and magazine fees from students during the coronavirus pandemic.

If the schools had already collected abovementioned fees, authorities should adjust the amount with monthly tuition fees, a circular of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education said, adding that schools can take only monthly tuition fees from students.

It also said that if the Covid-19 situation does not improve at the beginning of 2021, schools will not be allowed to take the mentioned fees from students.

"This will reduce some financial burden on guardians," DSHE Director Belal Hossain told The Daily Star.

He said that most of these fees were collected while students enrolled at the beginning of academic year. "That is why we asked them (school authorities) to adjust with monthly tuition fees," he said.

The circular came when in-person classes of schools remain closed since March 17 and closure has been extended till December 19. 

The DSHE circular said that there was difference of opinion among guardians and school authorities regarding the collection of tuition fees during the pandemic.