Punjab Education Minister directs all schools to release full salaries of staff

Chandigarh: Punjab Education Minister Mr. Vijay Inder Singla, on Thursday, said that no school should stop the salaries of the staff during national disaster and directed all private schools to release full salaries to their employees during lockdown period. The cabinet minister asked the schools to follow the rules and regulations laid under ‘The Punjab Regulation of fee of unaided educational institutional act’ which has been amended to regulate the fee of unaided educational institutions. He added that no school could demand fees from students on the pretext of online teaching classes during lockdown period.

The education minister said that all schools should upload the list of books and colour code of uniform on their website and also paste it on the appropriate locations in the premises including on notice board.

“Colour, design and any other specification of uniform shall not be changed at least for two years. Parents are free to buy books and uniform from any shop and if any school forces them to buy them from any particular shop, strict action will be initiated against them,” he said.

Mr. Singla said that the managements could only sell the badges depicting the logo of their school for those uniforms which the parents buy from other vendors than the schools. He added that the home delivery of books by schools through a particular vendor has also been barred under the act.

Mr. Vijay Inder Singla said that the education department has also released an order under which all the schools have been restricted from demanding admission fees during lockdown period. He added that the schools should also not charge transportation fees and books charges from students for the next academic session till the situation normalizes.

“As many as 48 schools across the state have been issued show cause notices for defying government directions. All district education officials have been asked to keep tab on private schools and immediately initiate action against the violators, Mr. Singla said.