Extortion in schools!

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Most of the schools in Dhaka city are charging extra fees from the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination candidates for filling up forms defying Education Board’s instruction creating serious hardship to the guardians.
The education board fixed maximum Tk1400 for filling up forms but many schools are charging extra fees ranging from Tk 6000 to Tk 9500 for the purpose. Apart from the board fees, the school authorities are charging extra in the name of special coaching fees, model test fees, session charge and other fees from the SSC candidates.
Even the schools are charging Tk 4000 to 5000 from the students who have failed to pass in one subject in the test examination. If one fails to pass more than one subject, the amount is going up to Tk 6000 to 10,000, alleged affected guardians.  
Schools that are charging extra fees from the SSC examinees include Monipur High School Tk 9500, Kodomtala School and College Tk 9000, Alim Uddin High School Tk 8900, Nazrul Sikhhaloy Tk 8000, Adorsho High School Tk 8000, Mirpur Jannat Academy High School Tk 7700, Sheed Smiri High School Tk 6700, Residential Model School and College Tk 6650, Ekramunnesa Girls High School Tk 6700, Khilgaon National Ideal School 5900, Mitali Biddapith of Motijheel Model School and College Tk 5000, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Tk 4500 Monir Hossain, father of a SSC candidate of Monipur High School told The New Nation yesterday that the authorities of the school are charging extra fees in the name of form fill up defying the board’s order.
“My income is very limited but I have to pay Tk 9500 for the filling up of my sons’ form creating burden to my family,” he said, adding, “Like many guardians I do not have the means. I have no option but to manage the amount and make the payment”. Rokeya Begum, another guardian of a SSC candidate, said that schools have taken the opportunity ahead of SSC examination to earn extra money. Its seems to be a good business for the school authorities who are extracting money keeping hostage thousands of guardians.”
She urged the government to take initiative to stop charging of extra fees by the schools.
“It is nothing new. Schools are doing such unethical ‘business’ over the years. But the government does not take effective to stop the schools from charging extra fees,” said Anwar Hossain, a guardian.
He said extra fees are leaving heavy burden to us and many guardians have to borrow money to pay extra fees for their children. Farhad Uddin, Principal of Monipur School and College, said that in addition to the amount fixed by the board his school charges students rest of the amount for the purpose of special coaching ahead of the SSC examination, session fee and model test and others which were fixed by the school authorities.
Both the Education Minister and Chairman of Dhaka Board could not be reached for their comment despite several attempts on their cell phone.
Meanwhile, the High Court (HC) on Monday asked the education boards to stop charging extra fees from the SSC examinees in the name of form fill-up.
The directive came on the heel of outcry against such illegal practices by the schools.
The Court also issued a rule asking the boards to explain within four weeks why it would not be deemed illegal if they charge extra fees for the SSC examinations.
 The bench of Justices Kazi Reza-ul Haque and Abu Taher Mohammad Saifur Rahman issued the suo moto rule following a newspaper report.
The court has asked the chairmen of all education boards and the education secretary to respond to the rule within the next four weeks.