Near-unanimity has been reached among the representatives of the Private Schools’ and Parents’ Associations and the State Government representatives in slashing the tuition fees of private schools. An affidavit to this effect was submitted in the Orissa High Court on Tuesday by a joint committee formed on the court’s advice earlier this month.

 A Division Bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq on September 1 had asked the Principal Secretary of School and Mass Education Department to convene a joint meeting of the representatives of the Private Schools’ and Parents’ Association to resolve the fee row while adjudicating a batch of writ petitions relating to the issue.

The joint committee recommended waiver of either tuition fees or composite fees under seven different slabs. There would be no waiver if the annual school fees are less than Rs 6,000. Besides, the committee suggested a maximum waiver of 26% where the annual school fee is above Rs one lakh. There was also a suggestion for actual waiver of transport and food charges.

The committee also recommended a waiver of 30% in the hostel fees; and any school which has not increased school fees consecutively for last two years would not be covered in this school fee waiver scheme, the affidavit has mentioned. The court completed the hearing on the petitions and reserved its verdict.  

At least three PILs are pending disposal in the court pertaining to the common prayer of judicial intervention into what they call “arbitrary” decisions of the private schools to hike the fees despite the schools remaining closed since March and a few others partially functioning due to the Covid-19 pandemic.