Parents are having a harrowing time as the admission process for pre-primary section has already started and they have been running from one school to the other to secure admission for their child.
Parents are having a harrowing time as the admission process for pre-primary section has already started and they have been running from one school to the other to secure admission for their child.
Different schools have different criterion, along with demand of donation ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs1.5 lakh. And this has been worrying them a lot. Despite the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulations of Fee) Act, 2011, already come into affect since last year, parents are still unclear regarding the government department under which the section falls. Pre-primary section does not come under the jurisdiction of local education authority and they cannot interfere in the functioning of those schools.
In absence of proper guidelines, parents are having difficult situation to get their children admitted in schools, with some schools demanding donation in the name of charitable trust or organisation. "The school managements are interviewing parents and analysing if they can give donation," said Anuj Pandey, an education activist from the city.
Demanding donation or capitation fee is totally banned under the Right to Education Act. "But the education department has no control over these schools. They have converted a school into a money- making business, which is illegal and unfair for parents to want to provide good education to their kids," said Anamika Patil, a parent from New Panvel.
These schools have been taking benefit because of the loopholes in the law. The pre-parimary section has been included in the Fee Regulation Act, but which governing body will look into the matter is unclear.
According to several parents, who have been visiting schools for admissions, the donation amount starts from Rs40,000 and goes up to Rs1.5 lakh, depending upon the grade of schools. "Most of the schools are running another trust similar to the school to take donation or capitation fee from parents," added Pandey.
Many schools have already started the admission process and selling forms or prospectus. Parents also alleged that the schools have been charging hefty amount for just giving the prospectus. So, in order to secure admission, parents have applied to more than two to three schools. "The schools are making money just by selling prospectus," Patil added.
In the last one decade, the number of pre-primary schools have grown by leaps and bounds. "In absence of proper guidelines and governing body, pre-primary schools have mushroomed across the city and now it has turned into a business venture," alleged Pandey.
Every year, new players enter in the field and start churning out money from helpless parents. "There is no one to check the quality of education being provided to children and right fee," concluded Pandey.
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