Doha: Parents of an Indian school in Qatar have started an online petition against the management for imposing an additional “optional fees”. The parents claim that it is not justified since if the fee is not paid, the students will not have access to study material published on their website.

“The same was notified to parents through a circular dated 21 February, 2018,” the petition said.

As an alternate to the activity fee, the school is said to have now imposed a new fees – ‘Optional fees’ – varying from QR700 to QR1,200 depending on the grade.

“The fee structure approved by the Ministry for DPS-MIS does not have a component of activity fee and/or an optional fee,” the petition added.

One of the parents complained that the school is forcing to pay optional fee for some rare services, which are not useful for all students and now they have blocked student’s access to online assignments even after paying term fees.

“Optional fee is not approved by Qatar Education Supreme Council so I am not willing to pay. Now school is forcing us to pay fee by blocking the basic online access to student for their assignments. Today I called school to question about log-in problems and highlighted my concern for student assignments. As per telephone receptionist, assignment will be pinned on the class room board and students can copy it. As we know assignments are lengthy and more over students’ academic will be disturbed,” the parent wrote to The Peninsula

The petition on Change.org said: “As per the optional fee form circulated by DPS-MIS, the choice of making the payment towards the said fees is each parent’s individual discretion but with an underlined fine print that the child studying in the school cannot avail the following facilities in case the parent chooses not to make the payment.”

The school in its circular said that “from the academic year 2018, we have introduced an Optional fee to neutralize/cover the expenses of the following events and facilities which are not a part of the academic responsibilities and are purely optional.

1) Educational content and resource material in the school e-learning portal.
2) Mobile App to keep updated on school affairs.
3) Staff on duty to train and accompany students on Overseas Trips like Debates, MUNs etc.
4) Providing subsidy to children participating in International Sports and academic events representing the school.
5) Annual Overseas Trip accompanied by the staff sponsored by the school.
6) Subsidy on bus tracking system on payment to the vendor

Parents who signed the petition feel that every child should have the right to access study material as it is their right and fees is charged for academics and they also feel that the school trips are applicable to a only few students and the payment for the same should be made as and when the trip happens.

As per the petition the school has already started blocking parents and students from accessing the study material, even though the last date for paying first term tuition fee is May 15.

Those who have signed the petition have requested the intervention of the Education Ministry and requested the school to withdraw the “optional fee” and give access to study material to all kids.

The school in its circular mentioned that “we continue to seek your support to conduct these activities which add value in the educational experience of our children”.

Meanwhile when contacted the school principal was unavailable for comment. As and when we receive a comment from the school we will update the story.