DELHI GOVT ASKS 575 PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO REFUND EXCESS FEES
Committee for examining records of private school has audited 1,169 schools
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has directed 575 private schools in the city to refund the excess fees charged from students on the pretext of implementing recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC).
The government has also directed the schools to refund the excess fee charged between June 2016 and January 2018, with nine per cent interest.
The directive by the Aam Aadmi Party-led dispensation comes following the report of a Committee constituted by the Delhi High Court for examining the records of private schools, with respect to implementation of the 6th CPC recommendations.
The panel has audited 1,169 schools in the city so far.
“The committee has identified 575 schools in its report to refund excess fees charged by these schools with nine per cent interest. The schools are directed to refund the fees within seven days and ensure disbursal of pending payment of salaries if any,” an order by the Directorate of Education (DOE) said.
“Non-compliance with the order shall be viewed seriously and action shall be taken against errant schools under the provisions of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973,” it added.
This came after the Delhi government earlier this month decided to provide the last chance for registration to unrecognised private schools in the national Capital which were earlier directed to discontinue all educational activities from this academic session.
The schools have further been asked to furnish information, including address, infrastructure, land area and the number of students studying among other parameters, to consider granting them recognition.
“In order to provide an opportunity to the unrecognised schools of getting themselves registered, the department has created a proforma seeking relevant information,” the DOE said in a communication to the unrecognised schools.
The government has also planned to use the information to “draw up a database for future policy decisions and monitoring by DOE”.
“Besides, the information sought is also necessary to identify the addresses of such unrecognised schools as well as to fetch the information of students studying in these schools with a view to ensure their studies further in case the concerned schools face the action of closure,” the DOE letter said.
After taking action against the arbitrary fee hike by private schools, the DOE – acting on complaints from parents given to the Chief Minister – asked Queen Mary’s school in Model TOWN-III area to withdraw the fees hike for the 2018-19 academic session.
The order also asked the school to refund the increased fee to parents without delay and warned of action if this was not done. The school informed the government in writing that the proposed provisional fee hike for session 2018-19 had been withdrawn and excess amount, if any, would be refunded or adjusted in fee accounts of students.