Students, guardians protest excessive admission fees

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 4: Hundreds of students led by guardians and student leaders staged a demonstration in front of Kalindri High School in Manikchak block today in protest against the decision to collect admission fees of Rs 250 from each student, in contravention of the government rate, Rs 68.

Also today, hundreds of students of Dhiren Saha High School in English Bazaar town ransacked their school building, demanding the promotion of failed students.

The admission process was kept on hold today, as guardians - led by the CPI-ML (Liberation) alleged that the managing committee of Kalindri High School had been claiming Rs 250 instead of Rs 68 for admission to class V and other grades.

The CPI-ML leaders today lodged a complaint with the district inspector of schools and demanded the break up of fees collected from students for admission.

“The school has also not started a midday meal project for upper primary students,” alleged Mr Naba Biswas, a CPI-ML leader.

The headmaster of the school, Mr Najmul Hoque, said: “The decision was taken by the managing committee. After an agitation, it was decided that the MC will hold another meeting to finalise the rate of admission fees.”

The DI, secondary, Mr Chinmay Sarkar said: “The CPI-ML leaders asked me about the government rate for admission fees. I told them the school is only permitted to collect the exact amount of Rs 68 - the government rate - and that I support their movement. I will ask the school authorities about the allegations."

On the other hand, Mr Kamalakshya Sen - the teacher in charge of Dhiren Saha High School, whose students are demanding that failed students be promoted - said: “I am on medical leave. I have heard that a group of students agitated in school and created a problem.”

According to him, 30 per cent students have failed in class examinations and school authorities decided not to promote them.

“I have asked the teachers to begin a dialogue with the students and settle the matter. It is nothing new. Every year we face a similar problem,” Mr Sen said.

Dhiren Saha High School has been in trouble throughout the year due to lack of proper management. Since 1977, no election was held to form a managing committee. The school is run by an administrator appointed by the government.

The senior deputy collector in Malda district magistrate office, Mr Subho Mukherjee, also an administrator of Dhiren Saha High School, said: “After the end of the election process I will look into the matter. We are trying hard to conduct elections to form a managing committee for this school. After September the matter will be resolved.”