Karnataka Government asks private educational institutions to postpone admission process and fee collection for next academic year until further notice

The State Government of Karnataka has warned all the private educational institutions against legal action if they continue to conduct the admission procedures and collection of fees for the upcoming academic year. The warning has been issued by the Karnataka State Government in wake of the COVID-19 Lockdown issued by the central government. 

Karnataka State Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar while speaking to the media via a video said that reports have been received that certain private educational institutions have been demanding parents to pay the fee for the next academic year in the month of April or May 2020. He further added that schools have also been providing deadlines for the submission of the fee.

Due to the lockdown issued considering the COVID-19 spread, the Karnataka Education Department has issued a circular asking that the admission process and the collection of fee for the 2020-21 academic year must be postponed until further notice from the government. 

The Minister, in the video, clarified that if an institution is found violating the government order they will be held accountable under the Education Act which includes cancellation of the recognition of the schools or educational institutions. Along with that, a criminal case under section 3 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 along with CRPC will be booked on the institution. He has requested all the private educational institutions to postpone the admission procedures and fee collection process for the upcoming academic year until further notice from the government. 

The education minister has also asked the schools which have sent circulars to the parents asking to complete the fee payment to withdraw the same and keep them suspended until further government orders on the matters. 

Along with that, it has also been stated that the ongoing leave/work from home for the teachers due to the lockdown has further been extended to April 11, 2020. He said that the teachers of the primary and high schools of the state who have been given leave until March 31, 2020, and have been asked to work from home, the leaves have been extended until April 11, 2020, due to the 21-day lockdown declared by the central government to curb the spread of the COVI-19 pandemic. He further pointed out that during the said period the teachers are requested to act upon the schedule of the programmes provided by the department and work from home to fully prepare themselves for the upcoming academic year. 

Also Read: Delhi Government Schools to hold interactive online classes in April 2020 amid COVID-19 lockdown