The Education Ministry decided not to intervene in the issue of tuition fee for private schools as schools across the country remain closed due to the Coronavirus situation. It recommended Private Schools Association and the School Management Boards, which has parents as members, to discuss and decide on the matter.
Both the parties had written to the ministry seeking its intervention regarding school fees last month.
At the Meet the Press session last Friday, the Education Minister informed that the government already released the tuition fees of those studying in classes XI and XII under the government scholarship. Minister JB Rai said, in the current situation, both parents and schools are right in their own ways and it’s difficult for the ministry to decide when both the parties are right.
“At this point in time, we can’t say the parents to pay or not to pay. So basically what we have looked at is I think they should sit down and sort it out. They have the private schools association of Bhutan, we recommend that they should sit down and discuss with the school management board consisting of parents and teachers and decide amicably,” said Jai Bir Rai, the Education Minister.
Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering added it is important for the schools and parents to decide for themselves instead of waiting for the government’s directive.
“If we are to ask the parents not to pay the fees then we do not know when will the schools re-open. And what if the schools re-open within a week? Moreover, the salary of the teachers has to be met from the fees and what if they are laid off without pay. Most of them depend on their salary. It is a different scenario if the schools remain closed but right now the schools will have to re-open one day. So it’s a tricky situation,” Lyonchhen said.
The Education Ministry’s assessment found all schools including private schools implementing the education in an emergency curriculum developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, all schools are helping students continue their learning.
Meanwhile, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on COVID-19 Preparedness and Response decided to meet with the Private Schools Association soon. The Chairman of the committee said the committee received several issues from the Private Schools Association on the school closure. After the meet, the committee will submit recommendations to the government.
Currently, there are 38 private schools in the country.
Sonam Pem
