We would like to appreciate the stance taken by Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid with regards to the freestyle manner in which some schools have collected additional tuition and registration fees from SSC examinees. That some private educational institutions feel it within their powers to arbitrarily charge whatever fees they deem fit from their students, whenever they feel like it, is totally reprehensible. Parents and guardians have had to face the brunt of this behaviour for years and finally we see a glimmer of hope that the concerned ministry and its minister have decided enough is enough. The deadline issued on February 3 by the ministry to return extra monies collected by schools runs out today.

Outraged parents have demanded a rationalisation of fees and their indignation is understandable. An investigation by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has found several schools which have raised tuition anywhere from 11 per cent to 100 per cent. The point here is that there is no uniformity and no authority governing the tuition fee structure in our private schools and colleges.

We agree with the ministry that there has to be conformity in the raise in tuition fees across the board for all schools, keeping in mind that there is now a new government pay scale in effect. It is in everyone's interests to find an amicable solution. A failure to reach one would necessitate legal action and we hope that the ministry will act and not backtrack from promises made for such steps against errant institutions.