School students and guardians yesterday demanded cancellation of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC)'s decision to reduce subsidy in education sector and increase tuition fees of the educational institutions under its authority.

Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Chittagong city unit, oragnaised a rally before the Shaheed Minar in Chittagong city to press home the demand.

According to a press release of the front, the monthly school fees have been doubled while the admission fees have been increased by nearly Tk 1,000 in this January.

Failing to pay the increased fees, many poor students who depend on CCC's educational institutions will have to drop out, said the speakers.

Jannaltul Ferdous Popy, a former ward councillor of CCC, said the decision to hike the fees is "unethical and unjust."

Rokeya Khatun, a student of Purbo Madarbari City Corporation Girls' High School, said, "We want to be educated. But it seems that CCC does not want us to continue with our studies." 

The demonstrators submitted a memorandum to the CCC mayor and staged a sit-in before CCC building.

CCC runs various educational institutions including 46 secondary schools, seven kindergartens and two primary schools, and many colleges and universities.

Taj Nahar Ripon, president of the unit, also spoke at the rally.