Several city schools have pinned their hopes on some parents “to rise to the occasion” and bail them out from financial difficulty by not seeking waivers.

There are some parents whose income has not been affected, the heads of some schools said. If they pay the fees, it will help schools generate salaries of their employees and keep the institutions afloat.

In a Christian missionary school, 60-odd parents have said in the past five days they don’t want any concession.

In another Anglo-Indian school, parents of 50 per cent of the students paid the fees for the entire year months before the court order.

That is the spirit of the high court order as well but it is a choice parents have to make and schools cannot make it binding on them, a school head said.

“We believe there will be several parents who will not go for the concession. There are some who cannot afford but they have dignity and they don’t seek waivers but say they will pay in instalments,” Devi Kar, director of Modern High School for Girls, said. “Parents do value the education given by schools.”

Kar said schools could not continue using their savings and that there would be ongoing expenses like affiliation and maintenance. Also, schools have to take care of members of the support staff who look up to the employers for protection at such times, Kar said.

Although many services are not being used by students from March, schools have to bear annual maintenance charges to keep them running, many school heads said. These include computers, fire equipment, AC units, lifts, water filters and security agencies.

“There is no rebate on these heads; the tuition fee, too, does not compensate for that. If parents stand by the school at least we will be able to make both ends meet,” the head of a Christian missionary school in central Calcutta said.

There are additional expenses on digital platforms and some schools have to subscribe certain products against a charge.

“The expectation is that some parents will pay the fees and it will help us. But ultimately it is the parents’ choice,” Krishna Damani, trustee of South Point, said.

At Don Bosco Park Circus, close to 75 per cent of parents have paid the fees till October, the authorities said. “Many of our parents are central and state government employees and some get allowances for their children. Those who can afford should pay,” principal Father Bikash Mondal said.

Terence Ireland, principal of St James’ School, said 50 per cent of parents had paid the fees for the entire year. “These parents have helped us to tide over this period.”

“If some parents rise to the occasion, it will help schools to sustain financially,” Ranjan Mitter, the principal of The Future Foundation School, said.

Some schools have announced concession but have requested parents not to go for it if they can afford to do so.

“Parents understand the kind of effort teachers put in during online classes, creating videos, doing assessments and all. In some cases, teachers share their screens to help students understand better and parents are appreciative of it. We expect there will be parents who will not go for the concession,” Aruna Gomes, principal of Loreto House, said.

If parents do not respond, some Loreto schools will have to dip into their reserve funds, Gomes said. “It is not for a couple of months but for a long period of time and that is what makes it more difficult.”

Institutions must be preserved and there are parents who “understand it is in their best interest and they will not want their children to suffer”, Kar of Modern High said.