Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2011 awaiting clearance from centre

Updated on: Saturday, April 27, 2013

Uncertainty prevails over the implementation of the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2011, from the academic year 2013-14. The Act aims at putting checks on commercialisation of education and profiteering by private schools.

Addressing the media on Friday, Maharashtra School Education Minister Rajendra Darda said that the Act is awaiting clearance from the Centre and no specific time-frame could be guaranteed on its approval.

"The Act, which has already been passed by some Ministries in the Centre, is waiting for green signal from the HRD ministry. A query was raised by HRD ministry in September last year, which was satisfactorily addressed by us," he said.

Darda said the state government is following up with the Centre on the Act. "Both the Houses of the state legislature have already cleared the way for the Act," he said.

Passed by the state legislature in July, 2011, the Act stipulates creation of Divisional Fee Regulatory Committees and framing of rules for carrying out fee-hike besides serving other purposes in the interest of parents.

The delay in implementation of the Act has been drawing strong reactions from parents' associations, who have been insisting that the legislation be introduced from academic year 2013-14.

'Board exam results will be slightly delayed'

Darda said that results of board examinations will be delayed in the wake of 20-day strike called by teachers during this year's February/March examinations. "The results will be slightly delayed," he said. Last year, Class X results were announced on June 13 and Class XII on June 2.

Reacting to Parliamentary panel's opposition to provision of automatic promotions till Class VIII under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Act, 2009, Darda said the state government has already given its feedback to the panel on the issue. "The automatic promotions have been giving unwanted results like children deviating from studies and teachers not accepting responsibility for their progress," he said.

Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2011 awaiting clearance from centre

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