Opp. slams fee ‘hike’ in pvt schools
The Delhi government’s decision to allow recognised unaided private schools on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land to increase their fees by 15 per cent as an “interim” measure has drawn severe criticism from the Opposition, which said that the measure will open up “Pandora’s box of harassment and trouble for the parents”. A circular to this effect was issued by the directorate of education on October 17 to comply with the seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations.
The circular, however, reads that the general instruction for all private unaided schools, irrespective of their land status, is that, a fee hike is “not mandatory” for recognised unaided schools in Delhi. “All schools must, first of all, explore the possibility of utilising the existing reserves to meet any shortfall in payment of salaries and allowances, as a consequence of increase in the salaries and allowances of employees,” it reads.
“Schools in Delhi have to comply with the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, which ask for a nearly 25 per cent increase in salaries of school teachers. The arrears will need to be paid with 7.5 per cent of tuition fees of students, while the new salaries will be funded by the 15 per cent fee hike, with effect from July 1, 2017,” the circular reads.
Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta said the city government by permitting interim fee hike in private schools has “once again opened a Pandora’s box of harassment and trouble for parents”.
Mr Gupta alleged, with this order, the government has “paved the way for earning of money by school management and exploitation of teachers and staff”.
“As this is an interim order issued arbitrarily by the government, it contains large number of defects and infirmities which has the potential for unending legal battle,” the senior BJP leader said.
Insisting that the government “must review its decision”, he alleged the government has “arbitrarily increased the fee without taking into account whether reserve funds are available with schools”.