‘Covid is getting us into trouble without a job. Life has not yet returned to normal. We do not have the power to pay the children’s school fees. Therefore, the government should waive school fees for families of children with BPL cards 2020–21 and 2021–22,” the parents insisted.
Parents from Bangalore City, Belgaum, Bagalkot and Mysore districts, who were participating in a public hearing on the impact of the Covid Crisis on Child Education, organized by Action Aid Association and the Slum Women Organization, began to weep.
“There are many conditions imposed by the governing body of private schools to issue a transfer deed. The government should issue a circular so as not to harass parents.
‘During Covid there is a loss of children’s learning. The Department of Education, Minority Department, Backward Classes and Social Welfare Department should take measures to address this. He also urged that at least two years of classes should be conducted in communities for children’s learning.
“All government schools are like kind schools, so our children get quality education. The government should be concerned in this regard too.
“Some school children abuse our children in front of classmates for not paying fees. They have also been excluded from online education.
“Many have requested the use of SC and ST grants to cover the pending school fees of the children of the exploited community. We will prepare a proposal and submit it to the government,” Devaraj, joint director of the Department of Social Welfare, assured.
Director of the Education Committee of the Department of Primary Education, Narasimhaiah, said: ‘No school should refuse transfer of children for a fee. If anyone is disturbed by this, complain to the field inspectors.
