Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College has waived 80 per cent of the laboratory fees and some other fees entirely after hearing about financial distress the families of many students are suffering from amid the pandemic, officials of the college said.

Those who have paid the fees will get refunds, the officials said.

Teachers of the college have bought three students smartphones as they were not able to attend online classes in the absence of the device.

Following the 80 per cent waiver on laboratory fees, a student of chemistry honours in the second, fourth and sixth semesters will now have to pay Rs 240 as laboratory fee.

“The usual fee is Rs 1,200,” said principal Atashi Karpha.

A student of physics or geography honours in the second, fourth and sixth semesters will now have to pay Rs 210 as laboratory fee, instead of Rs 1,050.

“In addition, the college authorities have decided not to charge building and development fees (Rs 1,200), magazine fee (Rs 100) and sports fee (Rs 60) because of the financial hardship. Those who have already paid will be refunded following submission of applications,” principal Karpha told The Telegraph.

“What really concerns me is the growing financial distress…. Waiving off fees or buying a student a smartphone constitutes a very small part. The larger picture is this economic distress, which is on the rise,” she said.

The college will continue to collect tuition fee, computer maintenance fee and the internet fee. Half the income from the tuition fee is sent to the higher education department by the colleges.

Gokhale college, on Harish Mukherjee Road in south Calcutta, was established in 1938 as an extension of Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School. It’s a government-aided college affiliated to Calcutta University.

An official of the university said an affiliated college is entitled to take decisions on waiving fees to provide relief to the students.

A teacher of the college said the financial constraints brought about by the pandemic-induced closure of economic activities have impacted several students.

“Many people have suffered pay cuts or job loss. There is also an exponential rise in medical expenses. Families are increasingly finding it difficult to bear the cost of education for their children,” she said.

Earlier, Scottish Church College had decided to waive fees for the ongoing and forthcoming semesters for students who have lost a parent to Covid. The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology has waived the hostel fees, library and laboratory fees for “its in-house students” till the resumption of in-person classes.