Pvt schools reopening with 20% to 30% fee hike, no action from authority yet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite various notifications and complaints, private schools in Bhopal are rigid to introduce the fee hike on every academic session, giving nightmare to the parents. Apart from fee hike, parents are also pressurised to purchase the books, copies, uniforms and study material from particular shop at higher price. In order to put a tab on arbitrary of private schools, Madhya Pradesh Fee Regulation Act was introduced in January 2018. School Education Department every year issues notification for three to four times in newspaper. But on ground level, there is not action taken against the schools yet. Parents are paying extra bucks to continue the studies of their ward in prestigious schools as they have no other option. Earlier, in December 2023, notices were issued by the School Education Department and district administration to take action in this regards. Again in March, 2024, hue and cry was there to tighten the noose around private schools. There were also raid on some book shops to check the real status. Collector team also found the arbitrary of book sellers and schools with syllabus books of particular school at each shop. But at last, no result was seen to the parents.

 

Now, schools are set to reopen their campus after summer vacation and everything seems to be same like previous year. School fees have been revised with 20 to 30 per cent hike and parents have purchased books, copies, uniform

at higher price from particular shops. Sources said that there were complaints against 86 schools at the district education office by the parents but notices were sent to only 12 schools. Parents complained at the District Education Office that private CBSE schools have already a fixed parameter to increase their school fee by 20 to 30 per cent annually. At the same time, booksellers have also introduced the hike, giving tough time to the parents. Apart from books, skyrocketing price of notebooks, stationery and other study material is giving a hit to the pocket of parents. Price of books by private publisher has been raised by 20 to 40 per cent while NCERT books are still being sold for the old price. Parents said that when paper cost has been increased then how NCERT books are available for the same price in market? Talking about the books from private publisher, District Education Officer Anjani Kumar Tripathi said, “Schools are suggested to allow only NCERT books for primary and middle class on mandatory basis.

 

Further notices will be sent to the schools in this regards to follow the guidelines strictly. For the new session 2024-25, we have already identified the defaulters and further process is continue to tighten the noose. Schools have been told to inform at office before introducing fee hike. Soon campaign will begin to tighten the noose of private schools and bring transparency.” One of the parents, Rose Dante of private missionary school said, “We have received notice from school that this year to 205 fee hike is there. The schools gave it in written that if anyone having objection with the fee hike, they can take transfer certificate of their ward. I have already filed many complaints but no action was taken. Now I am paying the fee without any complaint because I want my child to study in the prestigious school.”