After coming down heavily on professional colleges that allegedly collected exorbitant fees, the State government today warned of similar  action on schools that fleece parents (students) .

School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced in the State Assembly today that a new law would be introduced soon to stop schools (both private and government-run) from collecting donations and extra fees from students.

Replying to a special call attention motion in the House, Thennarasu said the department, as per the instructions of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, was taking all necessary steps to monitor the functioning of schools and to improve the quality of education.

‘Quality education is being provided in government schools. Even this year, a State-run school at Vedasandhur produced a State ranker. But there are parents who run from pillar to post to admit their wards in private schools.

A Supreme Court ruling has empowered private institutions to fix fees on their own, as a result of which the State government is only in a position to offer suggestions to them.’

Stating that the government was however monitoring the collection of fees and donations in educational institutions, the Minister said a new bill would be introduced soon to take stringent action against school managements which collected exorbitant fees.

‘The Chief Minister has instructed that a draft bill in this regard should be tabled in the Assembly in the ongoing session itself,’ the Minister said. 16-hour free power to farmers.

Meanwhile, a statement read under Rule-110 in the State Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin said farmers in the Delta area (Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts) would be provided from today 16 hours of free electricity to enable them to harvest Kuruvai paddy. Earlier, they were provided10 hours of free power.

‘Don’t overload autos with kids’

In what may be termed as another respite to school students, especially those taking autorickshaws to reach shools, State Transport Minister K N Nehru today warned drivers of autorickshaws to stop overloading vehicles with children.

Replying to a query by Mylapore MLA S Ve Shekher, he said there was an existing government order that only five school children should be allowed to travel at a given time. Necessary action would be taken against those violating this rule.