Parents protest 30% fee hike by Ahmedabad school

A 30% hike in fees announced by Shayona International School on Tuesday has come as a shock to the parents of the school’s students. Agitated parents discussed the matter with the school authorities on Wednesday and, when nothing came of their talks, they took out a rally, carrying banners and shouting slogans against the school.

During their talks with the school authorities, the parents urged the authorities to roll back the fee hike. A parent, Sanjay Shah, told DNA that last year too the school had increased fees from Rs8,400 to Rs11,800 - a hike of Rs3,000.

“This year, too, the school wants to increase fees to Rs15, 000. This is not justified,” Shah said. Trustee of the school, Suresh Patel, principal Dolly Pathak and some teachers were present for discussions with the parents.

During their talks, parents at one point demanded that the school authorities give it in writing that the school will not hike any fees until 2015.

To this, trustee Suresh Patel said that this was impossible. “But I’m ready to give this in writing if you parents can give your word that price of food products will not increase till 2015,” Patel said. Principal Dolly Pathak tried to convince the parents that the hike in fees was needed as the school wants to move towards total computerization. But the parents were unwilling to accept this.

When conventional facilities at the school were not functioning properly, how could new technology work well at the school, the parents asked.