CAMPE has been continuously working towards making education affordable for all children. In 2012 following media reports CAMPE noted that some of the renowned schools were charging excess fees ranging from Taka 8000 up to 32000 as admission charges or donation. This imposed a burden on the parents of the children. It was a violation of the Government directives of Admission Policy-2011 and was not compatible with the indication of National Education Policy-2010.

At this point CAMPE and BLAST together, filed a writ petition challenging the legality of imposing excess fees and other charges as admission fees or in the form of compulsory donation for enrolment of students by the various non-governmental private (Primary, secondary and higher secondary) educational institutions across the country. The petition also challenged the failure of the government to comply with their statutory and constitutional duties to inquire into allegation of charging fees and other charges in excess of the prescribed ceiling fixed by the ministry of Education and to prosecute and punish those found responsible and provide redress to those affected.  As a result of it, on 9 January 2012 a Division Bench issued Rule Nisi calling upon the respondents (Ministry of Education, DPE, DSHE and all Board of Education). 

As part of advocacy for affordable education CAMPE arranged a Public Dialogue on 25 January 2012 on Admission Trade: People Speak in association with Channel i where Honorable Education Minister categorically said that schools which charged admission fees higher than the government-fixed amount would have to return the extra money or adjust it with monthly fees.

At last in late 2013 CAMPE won the Court Case where the Court ordered the Ministry of Education to take action against those mainstream schools (Privately run) who charged excessive admission fees despite government’s order to refrain from such commercialization of education.

The Ministry of Education warned the schools and gave the last ultimatum to either return or adjust the extra money with the monthly fees. However some schools did not pay heed to it and finally, the Ministry of Education temporarily cancelled MPO facilities of three prominent Non-Government schools and asked DSHE to issue show cause notice on why their MPO would not be cancelled permanently.

This year the admission fees have gone up even higher. These unexpected excess fees have put the guardians in a fix. So, the guardians were compelled to take to the streets again and protests against such arbitrary decision by school authorities. The role of the schools was found to be against the government policy and the directive of the court.

So, CAMPE on behalf of other representatives of Civil Society Groups expressed concerns and presented a joint statement in media on demanding a stay to such practice of imposing excess monthly and admission fees in non govt. schools. The Ministry of Education took the matter seriously and issued a circular with 7 days ultimatum to return the excess fees charged otherwise they will take action as per court direction.

A civil society team led by CAMPE also met the Hon’ble Minster for Education and shared their concerns over the recent practice of charging excess admission fees. The team thanked the Hon’ble Minister for taking immediate action. The Hon’ble Minister mentioned that the cooperation of civil society will strengthen his initiatives in this mission to prevent making education into commercial venture. The Hon’ble Minister in a press briefing referring to respective schools stated, “We are showing tolerance, but that does not mean we will not be strict.”