THE High Court Division on last Thursday declared that all forms of session fees charged by the numerous English medium schools in the country as illegal. The verdict came against the backdrop of a writ petition filed with the HC in 2012 challenging the legality of Session Fees and value added tax (VAT) charged by the numerous English medium schools in the country. However, the verdict was long overdue.
What the many English medium schools scattered across the country have been doing for decades is charging students almost the equal amount of money in the name of “adjustments” to the annual and other fees. This malpractice among our English medium schools had become rampant over the years because of evident lack of transparency and accountability. The HC also issued a set of directives for running these English medium schools according to the government’s rule books. It further stated that a Managing Committee must be formed at every English medium school as per the Private (English medium) School and College Ordinance 1962 and the Private English Medium School Registration Rules, 2007.
Understandably, the law in terms of running privately run English medium schools had existed – but similar to many existing laws – the strict monitoring of its implementation was missing. Now that the verdict concerning the Session Fee has been declared illegal – it is upto all the three parties – schools, law enforcement agencies and guardians to collectively ensure its effective enactment. Otherwise it will remain in pen and paper.
Last Thursday’s verdict also included another provision for forming a school Managing Committee for every school for auditing the accounts of English medium schools while make the audit reports available to all parents and on the respective websites of the institutions. This is particularly important which should have been introduced long ago.
In most Western countries credibility of public and private academic institutions is built on how transparent they are with their fees, and also how they are spent. However, better late than never, we now have been presented with a similar legal ruling. Now the schools are expected not to be able to hike fees or take any decision as per their whims. That said – the country’s 150 English medium schools, catering to the needs of some 1.93 lakh students should also be accredited by a government body, which will check the quality of education provided by them.
In recent times, we have observed many of the students passing out from these schools to have mastered American or British accents, instead of learning accurate English for the purpose of correct speaking and writing. This phony and artificial trend must be highly discouraged at all levels. Moreover, a legal mechanism should be introduced for preventing the mushrooming of poor quality schools administered by low quality teachers.
Finally, we want all schools falling under the Bangladesh Education Statistics of 2016 to be brought under the scanner of last Thursday’s landmark verdict while making our schools and colleges more accountable for all types of fees, charges and adjustments.
What the many English medium schools scattered across the country have been doing for decades is charging students almost the equal amount of money in the name of “adjustments” to the annual and other fees. This malpractice among our English medium schools had become rampant over the years because of evident lack of transparency and accountability. The HC also issued a set of directives for running these English medium schools according to the government’s rule books. It further stated that a Managing Committee must be formed at every English medium school as per the Private (English medium) School and College Ordinance 1962 and the Private English Medium School Registration Rules, 2007.
Understandably, the law in terms of running privately run English medium schools had existed – but similar to many existing laws – the strict monitoring of its implementation was missing. Now that the verdict concerning the Session Fee has been declared illegal – it is upto all the three parties – schools, law enforcement agencies and guardians to collectively ensure its effective enactment. Otherwise it will remain in pen and paper.
Last Thursday’s verdict also included another provision for forming a school Managing Committee for every school for auditing the accounts of English medium schools while make the audit reports available to all parents and on the respective websites of the institutions. This is particularly important which should have been introduced long ago.
In most Western countries credibility of public and private academic institutions is built on how transparent they are with their fees, and also how they are spent. However, better late than never, we now have been presented with a similar legal ruling. Now the schools are expected not to be able to hike fees or take any decision as per their whims. That said – the country’s 150 English medium schools, catering to the needs of some 1.93 lakh students should also be accredited by a government body, which will check the quality of education provided by them.
In recent times, we have observed many of the students passing out from these schools to have mastered American or British accents, instead of learning accurate English for the purpose of correct speaking and writing. This phony and artificial trend must be highly discouraged at all levels. Moreover, a legal mechanism should be introduced for preventing the mushrooming of poor quality schools administered by low quality teachers.
Finally, we want all schools falling under the Bangladesh Education Statistics of 2016 to be brought under the scanner of last Thursday’s landmark verdict while making our schools and colleges more accountable for all types of fees, charges and adjustments.
