The Kerala CBSE School Managements Association has backtracked on its decision not to hike the tuition fee in the new academic year.
The change in position comes 10 days after association representatives said they had taken into consideration the financial constraints experienced by parents in the COVID-19 situation while deciding not to hike the fee.
“It’s a policy proposed by the association in this unusual scenario. However, schools can fix the fee in tune with the facilities provided,” T.P.M Ibrahim Khan, president of the association, said on Thursday.
The new decision emerged after several member institutions opposed the stance of the association leadership. “We do not have any legal rights that make our policy binding on member schools,” he said.
Mr. Khan said several managements were ready with the new fee schedule before the COVID-19 outbreak. “There are many schools that may not go for a hike. However, we hope that those planning a hike will keep it minimal,” he said.
On whether the managements will permit parents to deposit the fee on a monthly basis to ease the liabilities, Mr. Khan said it was up to the managements to decide on it. “Schools that collect the fee through banks may find it difficult to change the existing pattern. The clerical work may also go up if it is collected on a monthly basis,” he said.
A circular issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on April 17 had said that fee shall be charged under the heads prescribed by the Department of Education of State/Union Territories.
Admission fee and fee charged under any other head should be only as per the regulations of the appropriate government. The affiliation bylaws of the board empowered the Education Departments of the State/Union Territories concerned to decide the manner in which the fee could be collected, it said.
