About 200 parents of students at Saraswati Education Society, in Thane, staged a protest at the school on Thursday against the management's hiking the special fee by Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 annually from the new academic year.
The parents of the boys and girls studying at the school, located in the Pachpakhadi area, have been paying a special fee of Rs2,000 towards computer and lab fees, exam stationery and extra-curricular activities.
On Thursday evening, Shalini Hasmoth, principal of the school, said the management would return the fee collected from the parents and a decision would be taken on the issue by the trustees of the education society.
Parents were irked on Wednesday when they received a circular about the decision to increase the special charge to Rs5,000 for secondary students. The circular neither explained the reason for the hike, nor gave a break-up of the amount.
"It is an aided school, so the fees are nominal and education for the girls is free. Yet, the school charged Rs2,000 annually and we paid the amount as the school offers good facilities. But yesterday they surprised us with the announcement that we would have to pay Rs5,000. This is a violation of the rules," said B Salunkhe, a parent.
Sushil Pawar, also a parent, said, "We are prepared to pay the increased amount, but the school should explain the reason for the increase."
He explained that when asked a school official said the charge was for an interactive class to be started from the next school year. "We cannot understand why Rs3,000 per child for such a class," Pawar said.
The parents have demanded that a parents teachers association (PTA) meeting be held to discuss the matter.
"The protest by parents and the presence of the media has compelled the school to hold back its decision. We will look forward to the PTA meeting when the school reopens in June and we will take a decision on this together with the school authorities," said Sanjay Bapat, a parent.
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