The Assam government today instructed all private schools to reduce fees for the month of March by 50 per cent, while also asking the schools to not deduct salaries of teachers and other staff.

Addressing a press conference here, state Education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "As per a decision taken by the Education department, all private schools have been asked to reduce the monthly fees for March by 50 per cent for all classes, up to class 12. No fee is applicable to government schools." "If any school had already collected the full fees for March, it should be adjusted during the next month," he added.

He further said no private school can increase their fee structure without prior permission from the Education Department until the novel Coronavirus pandemic continues.

The minister, who also holds Finance and Health portfolios, warned the private schools from deducting any salary of teachers and other staff. On the loss to the academic calendar, Dr Sarma said as per the Education department's calculations, if the lockdown continues till May 30, the number of school days lost would be 52.

He said this number of days can be compensated by keeping schools open on Saturdays, and even Sundays if necessary, and waiving the number of declared holidays. He added, "However, if the educational institutions remain closed for a longer period, we have to device means to ensure that the students do not lose a valuable year.