Govt cancels readmission fees for students

 
Staff Reporter :

In a landmark decision aimed at alleviating the financial burden on students and their families, especially those from middle-income and low-income backgrounds, the government has officially abolished readmission fees for students at educational institutions across the country.

The Secondary and High Secondary Education Division under the Ministry of Education on Wednesday made the announcement just the day when newly elected BNP government took charge at the Secretariat.

The policy, designed to curb financial irregularities, ensure transparency, and enhance accountability within the educational system, explicitly states that no educational institution in the country can collect readmission fees from students.

This move follows years of public demand and protests against the practice, which many felt placed an undue financial strain on students and their families, particularly during the annual readmission period.

The collection of readmission fees has been a contentious issue for many years. Middle and lower-income families have often struggled with these fees, which were charged by both public and private educational institutions at the beginning of each academic year.

Despite repeated calls from various sectors of society to abolish this fee, previous governments had not implemented any significant change in the system.

However, under the new administration led by Tarique Rahman, the Ministry of Education has taken bold steps to address this issue.

The decision to cancel the readmission fee is seen as a critical move in the government’s ongoing education reforms, designed to make education more accessible and affordable to all students, regardless of their financial background.

The newly issued guidelines state that no institution – whether public or private -can charge readmission fees from students.

However, the policy allows private institutions to continue charging tuition fees, but these must align with the “Tuition Fee Policy 2024” issued by the Ministry of Education.

Furthermore, no new fees or charges can be introduced by educational institutions beyond the approved tuition fees.

In addition to addressing the issue of readmission fees, the policy includes provisions to ensure financial transparency and prevent corruption.

It mandates that all private educational institutions must follow government financial rules and regulations in managing their income and expenditure.
The financial records of each institution must be jointly signed by the head of the institution and the chairman of the governing body.
If any financial misconduct or corruption is discovered within an institution, both the institution head and the chairman of the governing body will be held accountable, and appropriate legal action will be taken.
To further ensure proper financial management, the new policy requires all educational institutions to open bank accounts with government-owned banks.
All fees, donations, and income generated from other sources must be collected through these designated accounts or government-approved payment gateways like Sonali Payment Gateway (SPG).
Cash payments will only be allowed in cases of emergency or natural disasters, subject to Ministry of Education guidelines, and the collected cash must be deposited into the designated bank account within two working days.
Furthermore, any changes to the income and expenditure categories of an institution must be approved by the Ministry of Education.
Institutions are required to deposit their collected fees into the designated accounts following the prescribed processes set by the relevant educational boards or universities.
This move by the Ministry of Education is seen as a major step in the broader effort to reform the education sector.
Officials have stated that the goal is to eliminate financial barriers to education and create a more transparent and accountable system.
The cancellation of readmission fees is expected to reduce the financial stress on families, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, and make education more equitable for all.
Parents and students have welcomed the decision, with many expressing relief that they will no longer be burdened by the often high and unpredictable readmission fees.
For the government, the challenge now lies in ensuring effective implementation of these policies across the country, particularly in private institutions, where there has been widespread concern over financial irregularities in the past.