Private school fees hiked, parents write to education commission for a solution

The popular slogan ‘Hum Do Humare Do’ seems irrelevant in today’s era, as parents prefer one or rather no child. One can attribute several reasons for this approach of the parents but one of the major reasons could be the amount required to raise children, especially for their schooling. It would be no wrong to say that the ever-increasing fees of private schools have compelled modern-day parents to think twice before making up their minds for a child.

There have been several instances wherein schools have hiked fees and parents have registered vehement opposition to it and then both dragging each other to courts and tribunals etc.

Since last few years, a similar scenario could be seen in Maharashtra wherein parents from various parts of the state had come forward to voice their grievances regarding the ‘arbitrary’ hike in fees.

Taking a note of the issue that undoubtedly involves the ‘public at large’, an Education Commission was constituted by the Maharashtra government to oversee the grievances of the parents. This commission was set up in April this year under the chairmanship of (retd.) Justice VG Palshikar. The commission also consists of 11 other members from the educational fraternity.

This 12-member commission is formed for recommending amendments in the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2011. The said Act has been effective since December 2014 and requires managements of private schools to put forth proposed fees for the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) executive committee’s approval, six months before the start of the new season.

Till now, the committee has met more than three times and is currently perusing the suggestions and objections it has received by hundreds of parents.

The commission is planning to recommend some protective amendments in the Act. However, it would be on the government whether to consider the same.

While speaking exclusively with The Free Press Journal, Justice Palshikar confirmed that the commission had invited suggestions from parents in May. “It was on May 19 when the commission had invited suggestions. Till now we have received more than 400 suggestions by the parents and the number is increasing on a daily basis. At present, we are looking into these suggestions and objections of parents and are likely to prepare a report of it,” Justice Palshikar said.

Justice Palshikar also revealed some details pertaining to the nature of suggestions or complaints that the parents have sent.

“We have received suggestions on the formation of the Executive Committees of the PTA. The parents have sought changes in the formation process of the committees seeking more importance for themselves (parents). Some suggestions have sought election of parents to these Committees, which is impracticable as elections can consume more than a year, given the number of schools in a city like Mumbai,” Justice Palshikar said.

“There have been objections to the structure of the annual or monthly fees charged to the students. Some parents have opposed to the charging of infrastructural fees that consists of the amenities provided by the school. They want the fees to be charged on a periodical basis, like once in three or four years,” Justice Palshikar added.

Justice Palshikar also informed that the next meeting of the Commission is slated on July 2.

According to sources, the commission is likely to apprise education minister Vinod Tawade and other concerned authorities about these suggestions and objections sent by parents across the state.