Fee hike issue: Govt steps in

Private schools and agitating parents here today reached a consensus negotiated by the district administration that the former would not enforce proposed fee-hike structure for the next one month.

Private schools and agitating parents here today reached a consensus negotiated by the district administration that the former would not enforce proposed fee-hike structure for the next one month. It was also mutually agreed that ll April 30, the parents would be at liberty to deposit fee as per the old fee structure, school authorities would call open interaction sessions with the parents in their respective schools, convince them of the fee hike compulsions and also accept objections from them.

HT Image

However, those willing to pay as per new fee structure, could pay the revised fee, which would be adjusted after the final decision on the issue. The district administration would take its decision after April 30 after going through the objections filed by the parents as well as listening to school authorities on the issue.

In the last few days, Gurgaon has been witnessing series of agitations by parents' associations who demanded a roll-back on the marked fee hike affected by private schools which they claimed was necessitated after increase in staff salaries following implementation of the sixth pay commission.

In a tripartite meeting of parents and school authorities convened by the sub divisional magistrate (SDM) Gurgaon (North) Shakti Singh, parents alleged the schools were not transparent disclosing their income and expenditure.

“Till April 30, the schools have agreed to call open sessions with parents and share with them their statement of account, the financial pressure if any because of the recommendations of the Pay Commission and also address parents’ objections. Schools would produce to us the balance sheet and parents' objections after April 30 and decision on the fee hike would be take again if required,” he said.