Indore: Amid protests and court cases by parents over tuition fees in several parts of the country, the schools under the diocese of Indore in central India have set an example.
Schools managed by the Indore diocese and religious congregations have waved off school fees worth 269 million rupees, understanding the financial struggles of the parents caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision was taken by the Church schools after about 70 percent of parents failed to pay the fees.
These schools are owned by the Indore diocese, the Central Indian Province of the Society of the Divine World and the Holy Spirit Sisters.
Sixteen schools of the diocese have 21,736 students. It has decided to waive off 25 percent fee of primary schools, 20 percent fee of middle schools and 15 percent fee of high schools. The total amount waived off from these schools is 110 million rupees.
The Divine World province that manages 10 schools with 17,280 students also has followed the diocesan way. The amount waived off comes to 93 million rupees. The congregation has waived off the entire fees in two rural schools.
St. Raphael’s School, Indore, managed by the Holy Spirit Sisters, has waved off the fee of one installment of all students which amounts to 66 million rupees.
People from various religions in Indore have hailed the decision of the Catholic schools. “Why don’t the schools run by other communities follow the example of Christian schools? Why don’t the Hindutva leaders who criticize the missionaries speak a word of appreciation of their concern and compassion?” asked R D Prasad, a senior educationist and Gandhian.
He further asked, “Why the media which publish many negative stories against missionaries and Christian institutions in their front pages did not bother to highlight this trendsetting decision of the Catholic schools?”
Some say the Church doesn’t make such important decisions public.