THE New Nation on Monday reported that many well known schools of the country have been found to be involved in profit-making practice, flouting the Education Board’s regulations without the fear of accountability. Official data revealed that the Education Boards fixed Tk 1,295 to Tk 1,385 as exams fees for humanities, commerce and science students. But schools such as Monipur School and College (Tk 9,500), Jannat Academy School (Tk 7,700), Dhaka Residential Model College (Tk 6,650), Ideal School and College (Tk 4,800) and Viqarunnisa Noon School and College (Tk 4,500) and many more in different districts were charging much more than the stipulated amount. According to the report, when asked to clarify the reasons behind charging for such high fees, school authorities replied that the extra fees were realised in tuition fees for the period until the publication of results, model tests, development fees, farewell programmes and under other heads. The Dhaka Education Board Chairman assured that action would be taken against schools which were charging extra fees if any complaints were lodged.
Apart from the primary victims students of the unethical fee-taking, the secondary victims – the parents – have to shoulder the burden of the extra fees. Parents from middle income groups have to face extra-economic stress in meeting such unexpected educational expenses for their wards.
Many aggrieved parents alleged that the well known schools across the country had been engaging in this practice of making extra money just before their SSC exams for many years but no one took steps to put an end to it.
Reports also said that school authorities denied taking extra fees without reasons. They rather claimed that they charged certain amounts for providing intensive care to the candidates so that they can do better in the examinations they are to appear in.
Meanwhile, a High Court Division Bench acting on a writ petition has asked the Education Secretary and Chairman of the concerned boards to submit a compliance report to the Bench explaining the legality of charging more fees apart from the specified exam fees set by the boards. Until then, the said authorities have been asked to refrain from charging any additional fees except the fine set by the boards for delaying registration, and other dues.
Such sheer disregard to ethical practices by the schools is surely unwanted development in education arena. The fact that the government and education boards have been irresponsible in regulating the institutions tarnishing our future by profit-making racket is unacceptable. Immediate steps should be taken by the relevant authorities to put a stop to this unnecessary and adversely adding financial burden on guardians.
