Nofeeregulationact,novotes:parents Student complains of ‘excess’ fees; writes to Mumbai varsity, FRA
Delegation to meet HRD minister on September 15; protest at India Gate the next day
MUMBAI:ANGERED by the Centre’s delay in drafting and introducing Central Fee Regulation Act, which will prevent schools from hiking fees arbitrarily, parents have threatened to opt for NOTA (None Of The Above) during 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Parents from across India, including a delegation from Maharashtra, will meet Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi on September 15 and submit their demands. This will be followed by a protest at India Gate on September 16.
“Each state has a different set of regulations when it comes to school fees. But state governments fail to punish institutes flouting the norms. If the government [Centre] doesn’t stop this loot, we won’t vote for any party,” said Anubha Sahai, a parent from Mumbai and president of India-wide Parents Association (IWPA).
In the past six months, parents’ groups across India have urged the Centre to introduce the fee act. They even floated an online petition, which was supported by 2 lakh people.
Sunil Chaudhari from Navi Mumbai parents association said he is part of the delegation going to New Delhi.
“The problem is CBSE/ICSE and international board schools think the government can’t do anything because they have their own structure in place. Most fee hikes happen in these private schools and parents are left helpless because the state does not act.” MUMBAI: Days after Fee Regulating Authority (FRA) said it will not accept new proposals seeking fee hike for the current academic year, it has discussed other rules that will be implemented for 2019-20 academic year. The changes will be approved by the members within a week and a circular will uploaded on FRA website, said senior officials.
“One of the major changes is 2017: A Dahisar school expelled more than 80 students after their parents refused to pay hiked fee. The education department is yet to take action against the school management.
2016: Parents of students from a school in Dadar had written to the education department alleging the school had imposed a 100% percent fee hike.
2015: Several parents protested against a Panvel school over abrupt fee hike following which education department asked the school to keep hiking fees as per old fee structure. The diktat came after parents moved court. The case is pending. that FRA will not consider lateral entry strength [admissions given to students in different years] while considering fee proposals for 2019-20. While considering the denominator factor [to determine fees an institute can charge per student], either the sanctioned intake or actual intake — the higher of the two — will be taken into account,” said Manik Gursal, secretary, FRA.
He added the rule is only applicable for 2019-20 academic year.
Existing FRA norms state in
Each state has different rules for school fees. But governments fail to punish institutes flouting them.
parent and president of India-wide Parents Association colleges with substantial number of vacant seats, development fee will be reduced accordingly. However, the new norms have deleted the clause. This will allow institutes to charge the same development fee without considering existing seat vacancy.
“Changes to fee revision norms have been discussed and the final approval will come soon. We will accordingly start accepting fee revision proposals for 2019-20 as per new norms,” said Gursal. THANE : A student from MS College of Law, Mumbra, has lodged a complaint with University of Mumbai (MU) and Fee Regulating Authority (FRA) against his institute for charging more than the fee fixed by FRA.
Yasin Kapadia, a final year BLS LLB student, said in the past two years the college has charged ₹23,680 and ₹27,450 from BLS LLB and LLB students, respectively. He said the fee fixed by FRA is ₹18,000 (BLS LLB) and ₹20,000 (LLB).
“The college is flouting FRA rules. Despite taking up the issue with the authorities, nothing has happened so far,” said Kapadia.
His complaint is being probed by the varsity’s Student Grievance Redressal Cell (SGRC). Despite organising two hearings so far, SGRC is yet to deliver verdict.
Until 2015-16, fee structure of unaided law colleges affiliated with MU was decided by the university. After Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fees) Act, 2015, was introduced, law colleges were brought under FRA. An FRA member said colleges have to abide by FRA fee structure. “We decided a consolidated fee for colleges,” he said.
THE OTHER SIDE
In a letter to SGRC, the college has refuted the allegations made by Kapadia and said it abides by the varsity and FRA norms.
“In addition to tuition and development fees, we only charge under the categories prescribed by the university and components that are not covered by FRA,” said Mahek Pathan, principal, MS College.