Relief for parents as many schools give fee concession

Relief for parents as many schools give fee concession

AnanthaNarayanan.K@timesgroup.com

Kochi:10.06.2020

After the decision to drop fee hikes in the new academic year, many city schools are now taking initiatives to give fee concessions to ease the financial burden of parents amid lockdown.

Besides the waiver on computer fee, lab fee and bus fee, some schools have even cut the one-time annual fee by up to 50%. Also, a few schools have reduced the term fees by up to 10% in addition to allow parents to remit the fees in extra instalments. Moreover, a few school managements have empowered the principals to grant extension of fee payment deadline and also allow additional concession in tuition fee to needy parents, who have valid reasons.

Earlier most schools informed parents that there would not be a fee hike in the new academic year considering humanitarian concerns so that it would not be an overburden for parents who could be struggling with their jobs. Schools are planning to compensate the deficit in their revenue by cutting operational cost to balance financial security.

Schools which initiated such measures include schools run by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Kochi Kendra), Global Public School, Rajagiri Public School, Toc H Public School, Al Ameen International Public School, Gregorian Public School, Assisi Vidyanikethan among others. All these schools have given the option for parents to ask for extension of deadline.

While Toc H reduced the annual fee by 40%, Global Public School has reduced it by 25%. In Gregorian, 50% of annual fee has been waived off for all classes. All those who have paid annual payments can get it deducted during next term fees. All schools have decided not to charge bus fee till schools reopen.

“Bhavan’s schools have increased the number of instalments to five from three. Also, parents who want additional relaxations or extension in deadline can personally approach the principals of respective schools,” said E Ramankutty, director of Bhavan’s Kochi Kendra.

Juby Paul, principal of Toc H, said the school has withdrawn fee hikes implemented before the lockdown. “Around 4% to 6% of fee hike was announced earlier but has been withdrawn due to the pandemic. Regarding the concessions, there will be a reduction of around Rs.7000 on an average,” he said.

T P M Ibrahim Khan, president of Kerala CBSE schools management association, said the decision may affect schools’ revenue considering the rising expenditure and teachers’ salary increment. “But in this present situation, it is ideal to reduce the fee and the decision is at the discretion of each school management,” he said.

A few schools have reduced the term fees by up to 10% in addition to allow parents to remit the fees in extra instalments