November 27, 2020.
TED NewsDesk, New Delhi: The Allahabad High Court has asked the government of Uttar Pradesh for its opinion on an appeal for not charging the students of private schools fees for the period of the lockdown and the promotion of students till 8th class to the next ones without taking examinations.
The appeal also points out the health problems faced by the students during the online exams. These problems are concerned with the students sitting in front of their electronic devices for long hours every day and suffering from optic damage as well as mental and physical stress. These problems are exacerbated by the electromagnetic rays emitted by these devices which hurt the health of the pupils, says the plea. The online classes add to the anxiety and stress levels of the pupils and affect their personality, memory, thought process and mental health.
The government was asked for its opinion by a bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Siddhartha Varma, who heard the plea filed by Masoom Bachpan Foundation. The appeal, mentioning the suggestions of many educationists, also pleaded the bench for an exemption in the examinations for the students of primary schools, and to move them to higher classes.
As for the exemption in the fee charged for the period of lockdown, the plea says that since there was no attendance in schools, the students shouldn’t have to pay their school fees. Additionally, suggesting that many teachers were not paid their full salaries, the plea also suggested auditing the accounts of the schools. Doing so will make it clear whether the school funds were insufficient to pay the salaries of the teaching and non-teaching staff.
The next hearing of the petition is scheduled for December 4th. The last hearing was held on November 17th.
Source: Hindustan Times