The government has asked all non-government schools and colleges of the country not collect any fees other than tuition from students during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education issued a circular in this regard on Wednesday. 

According to the circular, schools and colleges were barred to collect assignment, tiffin, readmission, library, laboratory, magazine and development related fees from students. 

If any such fees have already been collected, then it must be refunded or adjusted with monthly tuition, the circular said.

It also said that if the Covid-19 situation does not improve at the beginning of 2021, schools will not be allowed to take the mentioned fees from students.

The decision was made to ease financial burden of many guardians as the pandemic hit hard the working-class families. 

All academic institutions of the country have been closed since March 18 in wake of Covid-19 outbreak.

However, some institutions have reportedly been collecting regular fees from students despite the closure which raised confusion and frustration among guardians. Many concerned citizens have repeatedly urged government intervention in resolving the matter.

BDST: 1914 HRS, NOV 18, 2020
AP/SMS