New Delhi: The Gujarat High Court has asked the state government to ensure private schools do not cancel admission of students who are not able to deposit fees by 30 June.
A bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice J.B. Pardiwala also asked the state to regulate online classes for school students and examine whether the schools’ move to hold virtual classes for younger children is in the interest of their health.
The order was pronounced in a suo motu cognisance case on the state government’s preparedness to handle the Covid-19 crisis. In the recent past, the bench has issued a slew of guidelines, in particular for the Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, after news reports appeared on the alleged gross mismanagement of the hospital and mishandling of the pandemic.
The order to schools was issued on 19 June, a copy of which was uploaded on 26 June, on a petition filed by an unregistered organisation named All Gujarat Vali Mandal, to restrain schools from charging fees under various heads, except the tuition fee, for April, May and June, or until schools reopen physically.
The petitioner also wanted the school not to raise bills on a quarterly basis, but monthly. Besides, the petitioner said there should not be any increase in tuition fee and no student be denied access to online classes in case his or her parent had not paid the fees on account of loss in business or work due to Covid.
The court told the state’s advocate general Kamal Trivedi to come back with a response to the contentions raised and said: “We are conscious of the fact that the State Government may not like to involve itself with the administration of the private schools, but in the wake of the current scenario, we request the State Government to work out some modalities with all the private schools across the State of Gujarat so far as the issues raised in this writ application are concerned.”
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Modalities of online teaching to be worked out
The court went on to issue directions to the state on online teaching that has started in Ahmedabad. It requested the state to intervene and work out a few aspects, especially with regard to class timings.
“We are saying so because say, for instance, there are three children in the family and if the teaching is online, then all the three children studying in different standards may not be able to utilise the computer or laptop for such purpose,” the court said.
According to the court, a middle-class family may not afford to have more than one laptop or computer or television. In such circumstances, the other children in the family may be deprived of the benefit of the online teaching. As the problem appears to be common, the court added, the state must look into it, in the larger interest of students.
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Questions about the need for online classes for nursery kids
The court further asked the state to consider if online teaching was recommended for very young children, specifically those in nursery.
“We are saying so because a child studying in the nursery or in the first standard or second standard may remain exposed for a quite long time to the screen of the television or laptop or computer,” said the court.
Such classes may not only affect the eyes of a small child, but also their overall health. The bench quoted expert opinions to say: “The experts are also of the view that children below five years of age should not be imparted online education.”
Several more directions were issued to the state, including to cap the price of Covid-19 testing by private laboratories and to direct private hospitals to display, near the reception area, treatment charges as fixed by the state. The court also directed the state to regulate charges for ambulances and vans to transport dead bodies and ensure they are available in case of an emergency, and to provide appropriate facilities for cremation and burial so that there is no waiting for the authorities as well as for the bereaved families.
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If schools will be close then what will happen to the family of the teachers? Let us take an example if some one’s husband is tutor he is taking tuition and j
Has job as tuition teacher then how will he earn? Will they have to die of hunger? Please support teachers.
Why doesn’t the High Court arrange the money, according to them money will come out of thin air.the government is so ineffective that it cannot run schools and the Judges think any silly order can be followed. One of our biggest problems is an incompetent judiciary always playing to the gallery