Govt gets tough with private schools for arbitrary fee hike

“Now,all the self-financed secondary and higher secondary schools in the state are bound to comply these rules. Under the rules framed after keeping in mind the near to anarchy situation in private schools,authorities can take action against complaints from either parents or district education officers (DEOs),” said Secretary of Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) M I Joshi.

“Though it is the DEOs and his team that will conduct the inspection,the board has been vested with the powers to take appropriate action against the school flouting these rules and even withdraw school recognition. Apart from regular school inspections,the concerned DEOs have been given authority to check school records on a complaint by parents,” he added.

As per the rules,not only the schools have to justify the fee charged from students,but also schools have been restricted from increasing fee every year. Also,parents have to be informed in writing about the fee hike,if necessary,six months prior to the commencement of academic session. Also,any complaint of a self-financed school demanding donation from parents for admission will be strictly dealt with.

“Incidents of arbitrary fee hike have been put to the notice of the Education Department. Framing these rules was the call of the day and once put into action,the focus is now on the implementation of these rules. Since being a sensitive issue,the department believes that this practice by self-financed private schools will not be checked until some strict action is taken against defaulters. Thus,we have directed the DEOs to act upon strictly on any single complaint against a school,” said a senior official at the Education Department.

Recently,one of the private schools in Ahmedabad witnessed a week-long protest by parents against arbitrary fee hike.