Fee row: 72 schools to get notices

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 27

Cracking the whip on private schools for allegedly fleecing parents, the Fee Regulatory Committee is all set to issue show-cause notices to schools which flouted the norm.

As per the norm of the Punjab Regulation of Unaided Educational Institutions Act 2016, the schools can increase the annual fee by only eight per cent.

The schools will have to submit their reply to the notice within a week.

Following repeated complaints against the schools from parents, Fee Regulatory Committee chairman VK Meena issued directions for inspection of fee structure of the private schools.

As many as 65 teams have been constituted by the Education Department for the district.

It was found out that 72 schools had increased the annual fee by more than 8 per cent.

The committee has initiated the process to issue notices to such schools.

As per information, the teams directed the schools to submit self-declaration forms agreeing that they would follow the guidelines of the committee.

Deputy district education officer Harnek Singh said the teams inspecting the schools found 72 schools flouting the norms and the committee would take action against such schools.

Meanwhile, confusion prevails over whether the cap of 8 per cent hike is on annual fee or on annual charges or the entire fee structure for the year.

To clear the confusion and take concrete steps towards formulating a policy to be adhered to by the private schools, the committee will be calling a meeting next week which will be attended by not only schools management committees but also representatives of parents of children studying in private schools.

While one such meeting was to be held on April 18, it was cancelled an evening before.

During the impending meeting, the committee will also take up the issue of private schools indulging in commercial activities such as selling books, stationery items and uniform from the school premises or by directing the parents to particular shops.

In case such practices are proven, the committee will take action against the schools.