Meghalaya to rationalise fee structure in pvt education institutes

Shillong, Jan 8 (UNI) The Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government has stressed the need to rationalise fees structure in private institutions of the state.

Official sources said here today that the decision was taken after the Civil Society Women's Organisation (CSWO) informed state Higher and Technical Education minister Robert G Lyngdoh on commercialisation of the education system.

Soon after the meeting, Mr Lyngdoh directed the Commissioner of Education to take urgent steps in this direction.

''There was a definite need to rationalise the fees structure in private institutions,'' Mr Lyngdoh said.

At present the monthly fees ranged between Rs 150 to Rs 500 in private schools besides the mandatory private coachings.

Ironically, the fees were hiked annually by most of these private institutions.

Further aggravating the problem are the frequent change in uniform and school syllabus.

The syllabus needs to be ''upgraded'' from time to time and the frequent change was a matter of concern, Mr Lyngdoh, agreed and directed the education department consider the matter.

Earlier, the CSWO raised strong objections against the irregular fees structure stating that the ''education system has been highly commercialised.'' The organisation also rued that it was becoming increasingly difficult for parents of lower income groups to send their children to school.

''As a result some parents are compelled to discontinue their children's education leading to high school drop out rate in the state,'' CSWO Prseident Irene Hujon said.

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