Ashis Sinha I Bokaro: In a bizarre incident showcasing the arrogance of private schools in the State, Education Minister of Jharkhand Jagarnath Mahato today reached Delhi Public School Chas and deposited the fees of her granddaughter Rs 22,890 as the latter’s name was removed from online classes.
According to sources, Rita, the granddaughter of the minister, could not attend the online classes as her fees were due (April to September 2020) since the lockdown was imposed in the country. She is a student of class 4 of DPS, Chas in Bokaro district.
The Minister accompanied by DEO Neelam Ileen Toppo and other officials reached the school to deposit her fees. Mahto told reporters, “Today I came to the school as a guardian of a student and cleared all due fees by till date.”
Despite the directive of the State government to private schools to refrain from expelling students or mounting pressure on parents for the delay in payments due to the coronavirus pandemic, such incidents are being reported in the State.
The Minister said, private schools are disobeying government orders. “When this was done with me, I can realize about the troubles being faced by a common man and other parents,” said the minister.
“Yesterday, I had talked with the school management that I will deposit the fees at the earliest. But they ignored and removed the name of my granddaughter,” said Mahato.
“I will raise the issue before the chief minister and will set up an inquiry into the matter that despite the directive of the government how schools can dare to expel the students for the delay in their fee payments,” the minister said.
Despite several attempts, none of the school authorities were available to respond to the matter.
