Three months on, no action on erring schools yet

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 24

Even as nearly three months have passed since the Deputy Commissioner-appointed committee of the Punjab Education Department, led by DEO (Secondary), found 10 leading private schools of the city illegally charging high amount of fee under various inexplicable heads, yet no action was taken against erring managements of these schools till now.

A vigilant citizen, Vishal Joshi, who obtained an inquiry report under the RTI Act, said hapless parents were waiting for action over the report while financially and politically well-linked managements of these schools were comfortably ensconced in their palatial seats.

The inquiry committee of the Education Department prepared a consolidated report, procured under the RTI, and stated that DAV Public School charged 12.91 per cent, DAV International 7.81 per cent, Spring Dales 8.55 per cent, Holy Heart 6.10 per cent, Bhavan’s SL 9.35 per cent, Ram Ashram 9.84 per cent, Saint Francis 18.55 per cent, Delhi Public School 3.13 per cent, Amritsar Public School 9.75 per cent and Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Golden Avenue charged 16.75 per cent hike on annual fee from old students in comparison to last year.

From new students this year, DAV Public school is charging Rs 55,220, DAV International Rs 44,230, Spring Dales Rs 47,110, Bhavan’s SL Rs 25,500, Delhi Public School Rs 64,100, Ram Ashram Rs 41,000, Amritsar Public School Rs 31,020, Holy Heart Rs 24,300, Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Golden Avenue Rs 20,050 and Saint Francis Rs 41,950.

The report mentions various heads under which the school managements are charging fees from students. These heads are registration fee, admission fee, annual charges, tuition fee, science fund, computer fund, development fund, building fund, student welfare fund, pupil fund, sports fund, practical fee, electricity fund etc.

The committee, in its report, pointed out that many discrepancies of charging fees under various heads, wrong fee structure and failure to adhere to the CBSE norms, came to light.

PPA general secretary Dharmbir Singh Mahiya said it was the vindication of their allegation that the schools were running in the region as a mafia. He said his organisation would seek registration of criminal cases against erring managements of these schools.

Punjab Parents Association president MK Sharma said inaction against erring school managements sent a wrong message in society. However, financially cheated parents were perplexed at no punitive action being taken against the erring management of these schools, he added.

He said despite these schools having been asked to display monthly and annual fee at their premises, nothing had been done in this regard so far.