Pvt schools do not spare EWS students

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, April 25

Private schools here have been charging fee from meritorious students of economically weaker sections (EWS) under the head of various funds in violation of provisions under Section 134-A of the Haryana Schools Education Rules.

The schools say the students will have to pay these funds to get admission. The district education authorities say they cannot charge any amount from students up to Class VIII while nominal fee can be charged from students from Classes IX to XII.

Sources say private schools, especially those affiliated to the CBSE, have been charging fee under the head of sports fund, IT fund, exam fund and generator set fund from students who have got admission under Section 134-A.

Though resentment prevails among parents of students against charging of the fee by the schools, they are not ready to lodge a complaint, fearing harassment of their children.

“The school charged Rs 2,500 under various heads for admission of my son to Class II under Section 134-A. The Principal threatened to refuse admission when I objected,” said the father of a student on the condition of anonymity. He added that the school would start harassing his son if he complained.

Ramesh Rohila, chief of Sahodya, an association of CBSE-affiliated schools in Jhajjar, said no other fee except sports, IT, exam and generator set funds were being charged from EWS students. “These funds are mandatory for every student and hence, they are bound to pay for getting admission,” he stated.

Satbir Siwach, District Education Officer, said as per rules, every school was bound to provide free education to EWS students up to Class VIII and charge fee equal to government school fee from Classes IX to XII, which was around Rs 50 per month.

“We will take action against the schools if complaints of charging fee from EWS students are received,” he said. No one had approached him so far for lodging a complaint against private schools in this regard, he added.

ADC to verify papers for admission

Kurukshetra: The district administration would examine the documents submitted by parents for admission of their wards to private schools under Rule 134A. Sumedha Kataria, DC, said the ADC had been directed to check proofs of income and other relevant papers to ensure transparency in admission process. The DC cautioned strict legal action against those who filed wrong information to avail admission meant for underprivileged sections. — TNS