Govt warns schools against fee hike
TOUGH STEP The CM vowed ’strict action’ against any school that hikes its fees without a valid reason, or harasses students or parents
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia called a meeting with MLAS and education department officials on the issue of fee hike in private schools in the name of the 7th Pay Commission, and how it has impacted parents and students.
In the meeting in Kejriwal’s residence, t he government vowed “strictest action” against any school that hikes its fees without reason, or harasses students or their parents.
Sisodia, who also handles the portfolio of education, said that many schools in Delhi hiked their fee indiscriminately using the 7th Pay Commission as an excuse. After reviewing the situation, every school will be inspected, he added.
“We will take decisions in a week, after collating all the data about what is to be done. The CM and I have told all the officers that no school should trouble any student. No parent should be harassed in the name of fees. Hiking of fees indiscriminately in the name of 7th pay commission, and then threatening to kick students out, misbehaving with children, harassing their parents (will not be tolerated). If any school is found doing any of these things, the government will not hesitate even for a minute to take the strictest action against them,” he said.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to twitter to say that he had received many complaints from parents alleging that “schools are demanding very high fee including arrears to implement 7th Pay Commission. This must stop. I have directed education department to review the whole situation and to take immediate steps to stop this,” while adding that no school should victimise any student, otherwise the government will not hesitate in taking the “strongest action” against them.
Sisodia also warned schools that “the government will not spare” them if they start behaving like they are “running a commercial business.”
In a bid to address the complaints, the government had earlier issued a notice on Wednesday asking the district deputy directors of education to constitute a three-member Fee Anomaly Committee, comprising themselves, an education officer of the zone and a chartered accountant, at every district to look into such grievances.
The decision comes after the Delhi high court, last month, asked the government to constitute the panel before December 5. 0-50
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