Dadar school asks for letter on new fee structure acceptance from parents

Parents of Std I students studying in Indian Education Society (IES) in Ash Lane, Dadar West, are a confused and worried lot. The school has asked them to give in writing that they have no objection with the new fee structure, so that admission to Std I can proceed. But in fact, that's the very thing parents are not happy with.

A number of them approached BMC's education department on Thursday over the fee hike issue as well as them being asked to give the school a letter. Parents claimed that while almost all schools are set to start from June second week, they are clueless when IES is reopening. And, they added, though the BMC education officer reportedly forwarded their complaint to the education department, no reply has come from the latter.

A parent said, "The school has hiked fees last year from Rs18,000 to Rs35,000, and this year too it increased the same to Rs39,000."

"BMC's education department on April 27 stayed the admission of Std I based on our complaints over the fee hike. But there has been no response from the state. When many of us panicked and gathered at the school to know when it would start, we were told to give in writing that we accept the new fee structure," said another parent, adding, "In April when we protested, the school had said that the government was not reimbursing it the 25% quota admission fees, and hence, we would have to bear that."

President of Forum for Fairness in Education Jayant Jain said, "Firstly, the school cannot increase fees every year, according to the rules of the education department, and secondly, it cannot take such letters from parents in order to reoopen."

Despite repeated attempts, school authorities remained unavailable for comment.