No addl fees amid virus

Private secondary and higher secondary educational institutions cannot collect any sort of development or additional fees from students in the pandemic period.

The institutes, both under monthly pay order (MPO) and non-MPO, can take regular tuition fees, according to an education ministry circular issued on Wednesday.

"Private institutes, MPO and non-MPO, under secondary and higher education division can receive regular tuition fees but cannot raise money for assignment, tiffin, readmission, library, lab, magazine and development fees…"

If any institute has already taken extras other than tuition fee from students, it must refund or adjust the money with tuition fee, reads the circular.

The management of the institutes have been asked to be sympathetic if any guardian fails to pay tuition fee for his or her financial crisis in this trying time.

The authorities concerned should give utmost attention to the matter so that no student faces any disruption to his or her studies, the circular added.

The ministry issued the guideline amid criticism and allegations that some private institutes were raising money in a number of fields, including development and assignment fees, along with tuition fees.

Both guardians and educational institutes are facing dire financial crisis because of the coronavirus pandemic, the ministry said, urging all to understand the situation.

All the institutes have remained closed since March 2020 and all public examinations, including HSC exams, have been cancelled for fear of COVID-19.

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