Parents protest against cancellation of meeting

Agitated parents of the Rosary Parents Association on Monday protested against the education draft bill 2011 in front of the district collector’s office.

Syed Shaher Ali, vice-president of the association, told DNA that the protest took place against an assembly committee that was supposed to conduct a meeting regarding the bill, where almost 400 parents from various districts across Maharashtra were called.

“From Pune about 350 parents received passes and letters to attend the meeting, where important issues like fee hike and proper education were to be discussed. The meeting was scheduled on May 24. But two days before the meeting, all parents across the state received an SMS saying that the meeting had been cancelled,” he said.

“There is no reason, no clarification given to the parents about the cancellation, which is why angry parents agitated in front of the collectorate’s office on Monday,” he explained.

“We also received support from Springdale parents association for our stir. Our demand has been to reduce the fee hike, a committee that will keep a watch on the increasing schools fees should be set up where the in-charge should be at least educated, and also a law to curb arbitrary fee hikes,” he said.

“We are worried now as the meeting has been cancelled. It was the only chance for the parents to put forth their problems before the committee. Schools will reopen in the next 15 days the government should at least pass a government resolution on fee hikes,” said Ajay Sathe, general secretary of the Maha-parents association, the apex body of all parents’ associations.