Parents protest school fee hike

Kolkata: The city on Monday morning witnessed protests from guardians at three private schools in the city against the alleged hike in admission and tuition fees.

Guardians at the Jewish Girls School in Park Street on Monday prevented the school secretary’s car from entering the school premises alleging that the school authorities had hiked the admission fees (under the pretext of development) almost three times. When a police team from the Park Street police station reached the spot and tried to remove the agitating guardians, there was an angry exchange of words followed by a scuffle with the police.

It was only after the school authorities decided to hold a meeting to look into the grievances of the guardians, that the ghearao of the secretary’s vehicle was lifted.

“The school has agreed to give in writing clearly stating the reasons for such a fee hike by April 28, following which we will decide on our next course of action,” an agitating guardian said.

There was an agitation also at the Bodhichariya Senior Secondary School at Maitri Nagar in New Town for alleged fee hikes. The guardians had agitated last month on a similar ground but the school authorities did nothing. They later declared that the school would be closed till May 5.

Panchasayar Sishu Niketan at Baghajatin Park area also witnessed an agitation as the headmaster of the school was allegedly transferred without any valid reason.

Another primary school in Dhakuria also saw protest as the headmistress alleged that students had to sit on the ground due to the shortage of space. “I had written to the education department also but nothing has happened,” she said.