Karnataka Schools News: Schools In Karnataka Across Boards To Slash 30 Per Cent Tuition Fees

Karnataka Schools News: In a major sigh of relief to parents across the state, the Karnataka government has directed all schools cutting across boards to slash 30 per cent of tuition fee for the academic year 2020-21.

The decision comes in a wake of protests by parents who had expressed their inability to pay full fees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the new directive in place, all Karnataka schools and private academic institutions cutting across boards, including CBSE and ICSE boards can collect only up to 70 per cent of the tuition fees for theacademic year 2020-21.

Speaking about the decision to slash tuition fees, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar said that, "The decision to slash tuition fees by 30 per cent was arrived at after a detailed consultation with all stakeholders involving parents, parent associations and school managements."

Citing a Chennai High Court decision on an identical matter, the Minister said, "A similar decision was also taken by the Chennai High Court in August which helped us execute the best way in which both parents and schools could reach a consensus. This is a good step forward to create an amicable solution agreeable to all and most favorable to the students," as reported by News18.

Elaborating on the components to be excluded as tuition fees, S Suresh Kumar said that fees on grounds of development, for festive purposes and uniform cannot be collected, in addition to one meant for activities like excursions, use of swimming pool, etc.

He, however, stressed on the both parents and teachers developing a mutual understating in finding a common ground as solution that has been arrvied at after consultation with all stakeholders.