In December 2014, the state government declared the fee regulation act to be implemented from the coming academic year, for all schools. However, city schools are already rushing to hike their fees, to avoid increasing it once the act is implemented – in June.
In December 2014, the state government declared the fee regulation act to be implemented from the coming academic year, for all schools. However, city schools are already rushing to hike their fees, to avoid increasing it once the act is implemented – in June.
A Ghatkopar based school declared a hike in their fees in February, though, according to a PTA (Parent Teacher Association) member, they haven't taken a formal decision yet.
What does the regulation say?
The rule says that school fees should be hiked with the consent of the school's PTA, and approved six months before it is implemented for the academic year.
What decision has the Ghatkopar school taken?
Ghatkopar based PG Garodia High School in February declared an increase in their annual fees, much to the ire of parents whose children are students there.
The school has agreed to have made a hike of 13.6% in their fees, with the consent of the PTA. However, they refuted parents' allegations about it being increased for the third consecutive year.
The reason for this hike, the school says, is the escalating cost of the course material, the annual increase in teachers' and staff salaries, the biannual increase in dearness allowance (cost of living adjustment allowance paid to government employees, public sector employees and pensioners), and the provident fund added to the mounting inflation.
Parentspeak
The father of a student and member of the school's PTA, on condition of anonymity, said, "The final hike in fees will be decided by the executive committee on April 18. So, until then, one cannot say whether the fees has been hiked."
Students being tortured because of parents' protest?
The rumour mill has been in overdrive with regards to students being harassed because their parents have been protesting the hiked fees. A statewide signature campaign has been initiated by Forum for Fairness in Education (FFE) about the same.
Jayant Jain, FFE president said that a similar campaign has been launched by parents in other states. He added: "The We want the government to check the profits schools are making by hiking fees every year. Also, to take strict action on schools targeting students when their parents oppose the hike," said Jain.
The FFE chief added: "The government should check why the fees are different in every school when the education imparted is the same."
Jain also informed that a school in Pune confined a student in a dark room because his father was protesting the hike outside the premises. He also said that students have often faced expulsion due to the same.
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