Thane Municipal Corporation may return fees worth Rs 2cr collected from students

After the Samaan Shikshan Mulbhoot Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti raked up the issue of the fees collected from Thane Municipal Corporation's (TMC) English-medium schools being illegal and a violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2002, the civic body is now mulling over the proposal to return the fees collected. However, the reimbursement is not voluntary but an instruction from the Deputy Director of Education given to TMC.

There are over five English-medium municipal schools in Thane, and the civic body has been collecting an annual fee of Rs 1,850 from the students since 2014. As per RTI obtained by the Samiti, over 11,162 students enrolled themselves in English-medium civic schools between 2007 and 2017.

"TMC being a local government body has to adhere to RTE and cannot charge these students. As per our calculation, the amount is over Rs 2 crore," said Shyam Sonar, chief, Samaan Shikshan Mulbhoot Adhikaar Sangharsh Samiti. The Samiti approached the Urban Development Department in June 2017.

In a letter dated November 30, 2017, signed by Dr DB Chavan, deputy director education, the TMC was asked to reimburse the amount collected. "The fees collected from TMC students from 2012-13 to 2017 should be returned after taking the necessary approvals," reads the letter obtained by the Samiti under RTI.

Manish Joshi, deputy commissioner, education (TMC) said that the fees were collected as the civic-run English-medium schools do not receive grants from the government. When asked if that was the case, why the deputy director directed them to reimburse the amount, Joshi clarified, "We are collecting data about our English-medium students and getting their bank details. The proposal will be presented to TMC's general body and after approval, the amount will be transferred to students' accounts."