Chennai: Tuition fee for govt-aided English medium school students waived

CHENNAI: The State government has announced complete waiver of tuition fee of government and aided high and higher secondary school students studying in English medium schools. This largesse has already been extended to the students studying in Tamil medium of government and aided schools in the State.

The move follows an announcement made in this regard in the State Assembly by School Education Minister K. A. Sengottaiyan.  “At present, there is no tuition fee for the students studying in Tamil medium in government and aided schools. Considering the economic status of the parents and to encourage the learning desire of the students studying in these schools, the tuition fee for the students studying in English medium will be completely waived,” he had said.

 Accordingly, the director of school education sent a proposal to the government recommending the waiver of tuition fee collected from students of English medium schools of government and aided high and higher secondary schools.    

“As per the norms in Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, students studying in classes 1 to 8 are exempted from paying tuition fee for opting both Tamil and English mediums. In case of students studying in government and aided high and higher secondary schools, tuition fee for all category of students opting for English medium other than Other Castes (OC) students is being reimbursed by the government,” the director said.

SSA statistics reveal that statewide revenue collected from about 22,314 students of English medium schools is Rs. 67 lakhs. The director further stated that the waiver of tuition fee for English medium provides opportunities to students in rural and urban areas alike for acquiring excellence in English language skills to compete on par with students of other parts of the country in various entrance exams at national level.

And hence the director has also recommended that the stand adopted for students studying in Tamil medium regarding waiver of tuition fee may also be extended to students of English medium schools.

He said the waiver also facilitates smooth retirement to many government and aided school headmasters who are normally served with audit objections arising out of non-collection of fees from students of English medium schools in rural areas where the students are mostly economically backward.

“The government, after careful examination of the proposal of the director of school education, has decided to accept the proposal and order to waive the collection of tuition fee from students of 6th standard to plus two in English medium sections of government and government aided high and higher secondary schools,” the government order dated July 29, said.