Cuttack: Private schools in the state have opposed waiver of tuition and other fees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following a PIL by Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangh, the Orissa High Court had sought a reply from private schools in this regard. The next hearing is on May 26.
In the intervention petition, the Confederation of Odisha Public Schools (COPS) contended that most of the 2,000 schools had taken loans from nationalised banks and private financial institutions to run their institutes.
“These schools have monthly expenditure like the salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff, electricity bills, water cess and other daily expenditure. To meet the expenses, these schools entirely depend on the fees deposited by the students,” the petition said.
It further said 90 per cent of private schools have made arrangements for online classes for the students from 9 am to 4 pm through Zoom, WhatsApp and other apps and providing them with the soft copies of the study materials either through WhatsApp or mails amid the lockdown.
“If the school fee is waived, it will not be possible for the schools to pay salaries to these teachers,” it pointed out.
Also Read: Private Schools In Odisha Not To Waive School Fees Amid Lockdown