Government attempts to curb arbitrary fee hikes
As the complaints of parents regarding the exploitation at the hands of school managements have increased manifold, the joint director of education has issued an order to all deputy directors of education in the state to implement the Fee Regulation Act strictly and ensure that the schools do not resort to arm-twisting parents into paying exhorbitant amounts towards fees, donations and capitation fees. The order issued on May 10 has instructed officials to leave no stone unturned in identifying the errant schools and to address complaints of parents on a priority.
As per the order issued by Laxmikant Pande, joint director, Administration, Estimate and Planning, Commissionerate of Education has said, “Following numerous agitations and protests of parents and NGOs outside various education department offices in the state, it was decided to issue an order to all education department officials to ensure that the arbitrary actions of the schools are curbed by implementing the Fee Regulation Act. While orders issued on May 10 have been issued for schools in Pune, the same order is relevant across other districts in the state too,” said Mr Pande.
He further added that instructions to hold a joint meeting of the zonal deputy director of education, officials from the local municipal corporation and education inspectors was to be convened to chart out a plan of action to combat the menace of arbitrary fee hikes by the schools. The meeting would also address ways and means for curbing the problem of schools forcing parents to buy books, uniforms, stationery and other related material from the school at exorbitant rates.