Schools have been asking parents during pre-admission interaction how the Covid pandemic has impacted their income and whether paying the fee would remain a priority for them if they face a financial constraint.

Many schools would always ask about the family income in admission forms but the question has become more pertinent now, conversations with a number of school administrators suggest.

This year the focus is also on the ability and willingness of parents to pay, the principal of a city school said. Schools are trying to "assess the attitude of parents", one of them said.

Another principal said it was important to ask the parents whether paying the school fee was a priority for them because the pandemic would not be over soon.

Many families have suffered losses in businesses or pay cuts because of the pandemic and the lockdown, which was announced to contain the spread of the virus and which almost brought the economy to a halt.

At a prominent English-medium school, where the number of applicants at the entry level is much more than the number of seats, the authorities have been asking parents about the impact of the lockdown on their businesses and how they managed to tide over the crisis.

The principal of a Christian missionary school, where the pre-admission interaction with parents will be held later, suggested that income would become an important criterion for selection.

“It will become pertinent and it will also help in assessing their (parents’) background, whether their businesses have been affected. It will reflect on how they were able to tide over things,” said Terence Ireland, the principal of St James’ School.

Ireland said that being a church-run school, their mission was always to help but there were certain limitations. “If we have 100 students, it is not possible to give concessions to all. So we have to choose those... it will not be a policy for any and everyone,” he said.

Many schools put up their fee structures on their websites and it is expected that parents would make a choice accordingly, but this year schools are making an extra effort to understand the paying capacity of parents. In some schools, the scoresheet has a column for fees.

“The situation now has taken the spotlight on the ability and willingness to pay. We would hate to reject a child but we have to assess and have to be practical,” said Suvina Shunglu, the principal of Sri Sri Academy.

The school will also draw the attention of parents to the fee structure.

“We are having a conversation with parents to understand their situation and how they have been impacted by the lockdown. Some of them described how the initial months of the lockdown were tough for them...,” said a school head.

“We have to know from parents if their child’s education is their priority. We will want to know from them that if faced with a financial constraint, what would be their priority. Their child’s education or shopping or dining out?” said Nabarun Dey, the principal of Central Modern School.