M M Jasim :
The students and guardians have been demonstrating in city’s different schools since Sunday against the increase of tuition fees by the school authorities without consulting the guardians.
According to the guardians, different school authorities have increased tuition fees from 46 to 62 per cent which, they said, is very difficult for them to pay. They also threatened for tougher movement if their demand for withdrawal of the increased fees is not met soon.
The school authorities, on the other hand, said they have increased the tuition fees to meet the enhanced salary of the teachers and employees.
The students and guardians of Bangladesh Bank Adarsha High School held a demonstration on the school premises from 9:00am to 12:00pm on Wednesday.
As the school authorities are yet to meet their demand, the guardians vowed to continue their demonstration until their demand is met. Nasir Uddin, a guardian, said the school authorities informed them about the increase of tuition fees without any prior consultation with them. “My son is a student of class VI. I had to pay Tk 350 per month as tuition fee last year. Now I have to pay Tk 500 per month which is very difficult for me to pay. We have been demonstrating for the cancellation of the increased fees, but no result,” he said.
“My daughter is a student of class III. I paid Tk 250 per month. Now I have been asked to pay Tk 400. It is so high for me, said Md Hasan Mahmud, another guardian.
However, the headmaster of school, Mostafa Kamal, told The New Nation yesterday that due to the enhance of salary of teachers and employees, they have to spend around Tk 33 lakh per month while they could earn only Tk 17 lakh after increasing of tuition fees.
He asked the guardians to submit a memorandum to the managing committee of the school to press home of their demand.
Acting Principal of Willes Little Flower School and College Abul Hossain said, “We have enhanced the salary of our teachers and other staff members. So, we have decided to increase the tuition fees.”
On Sunday, the guardians and the students of Wills Little Flower School at Kakrail in city blocked the road in front of the school protesting against the increase of tuition fees by the school authorities. The blockade triggered severe traffic jam in the area.
The Willes Little Flower has increased tuition fees between Taka 900 and 1200 for its Bengali, English Version and English Medium students.
Meanwhile, Ideal School and College has increased the tuition fees for Bengali and English version of by Taka 100 and 200 from the existing ones, while Viqarunnisa Noon School and College enhanced fees by Taka 200.
The parents said they have received letters from school administration that planned to increase the school fees which is unrealistic and too high. “Our movement against the discrimination and fixation of new tuition fees will continue until the issue is settled,” said Abdul Halim, an agitating guardian of Wills Little Flower School. “We requested the school authorities not to increase the tuition fees as it will be quite impossible for them to pay. We also gave them time till January 20 to resolve the problem,” Nilufar Begum, a guardian told this reporter yesterday. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (SHSE) has formed a probe committee to investigate the allegation. Director General of SHSE Professor Fahima Khatun told The New Nation on Wednesday that the probe committee has asked to submit its report as early as possible. “We also asked the school authorities in the city to submit their report on expenditure. We will take action against schools who will fail to submit it in time,” she added.
She also said, “The students and guardians should not go to demonstration as they could inform us if the school authorities do not respond to their demand positively.”
