Members of the Khasi Students Union with education minister R.C. Laloo in Shillong on Tuesday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, March 6: Members of the Khasi Students Union, education cell, today met education minister R.C. Laloo, seeking his intervention in checking the exorbitant rate of school fees imposed by several schools in the state.

The chairman of education cell, KSU, Donald Thabah, and secretary, education cell, Kynpham Kharlyngdoh, met the minister and submitted a memorandum regarding the exorbitant increase in the fee structure imposed by several schools in Shillong, which has affected many poor students in the state.

The unprecedented rise in school fees, imposed especially by the private institutions, is irrational, unreasonable and without any proper justification, Thabah said.

According to the students’ union, the increase in fee structure has caused additional burden to the parents and the student community at large.

“It appears that some schools are interested only in collecting money by ignoring the difficulties being faced by the parents and also the students coming from a lower income group,” Thabah said.

The students’ union also pointed out that the exorbitant increase in the fee for admission forms by some educational institutions without giving proper justification is also affecting the students, especially those coming from lower income families.

The KSU also expressed concern over the frequent change of syllabus for different levels from Classes I to VI.

“The frequent change of syllabus for lower classes has created more confusion and disorientation in the students’ community,” Thabah said.

He also added that the frequent change of publications of books by the Meghalaya Board of School Education has a negative impact on the parents and the students.

The KSU also urged the minister to streamline the distribution of pre and post-matric scholarships, as there is always a delay in the disbursement of different categories of scholarships.

“It is disheartening to know that many students received their scholarships after they passed out their respective courses or after obtaining degrees from different institutions,” Thabah said.

The KSU also urged the government to implement free and compulsory education to all children, until they complete the age of 14, which is in accordance with Article 45 of the Constitution.

Expressing concern over mushrooming of educational institutions, which do not have proper classrooms, libraries and other necessary infrastructures, the KSU asked the government to set up the state council for higher education to oversee the functioning of these institutions.

The KSU also asked the education minister to monitor the agencies, which conduct edu-fests in Shillong so that the students are not cheated.