State will monitor schools to curb arbitrary fee hikes

Updated on: Monday, May 02, 2011

From this year, schools will not be able to impose exorbitant fee hikes on helpless parents. The state government on Wednesday directed education officials to strictly implement the Capitation Fee Act till it comes up with a law to curb ‘arbitrary’ fee hikes by schools.

School education minister Rajendra Darda issued the directive following the apprehension of parents and opposition parties that as the bill to curb ‘arbitrary’ fee hikes will not be implemented from this academic year, some educational institutions might charge exorbitant fees.

“We have directed the education officials to check each school’s account records for the last three years. Show cause notice will be issued to schools if they are found charging excess fees or their account books show that the profit made by them is not used for educational purposes,” a senior official from the school education department said.

Darda said, “The bill to regulate arbitrary fee hikes has been tabled in the state legislative assembly. In the absence of a law to regulate fee hikes, some institutions may think they can go ahead with ‘unrealistic’ hikes. I have, therefore, directed the deputy directors of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and other cities to keep strict vigil on all educational institutions and ensure that the Capitation Fee Act is implemented.”

The minister further said that he directed the officials to draw up a list of schools that had charged students exorbitant amounts in the name of fees. “Schools on the list will be under the radar of education officials who will regularly visit them to keep tabs on their activities.”

“Errant schools will be served notices. If a school fails to satisfy the government with its reasoning for a fee hike, the management will have to withdraw the hike. Those failing to do so will face severe action,” Darda said, adding, “The government has the power to cancel the NOC given to a school. If the need arises, this power may be used by the government to teach erring institutions a lesson.”

Times view

There have been several complaints about schools increasing their fees “arbitrarily” this admission season and a few schools have witnessed protests that have prompted the education department to step in. Schools, however, have reasoned they have to hike fees if they have to pay teachers according to the Sixth Pay Commission; this argument, too, seems to have merit. School fees affect family budgets but, at the same time, parents would like their kids to be taught by well-qualified and well-paid teachers. The government, therefore, needs to be careful and check facts thoroughly before either dismissing parents’ complaints or acting against schools.

State will monitor schools to curb arbitrary fee hikes

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