Fee hike: Some schools in a fix; others mask it as ‘extra’ charge

Private schools in Delhi are in a fix over increasing the tuition fees in order to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay commission, reports Swaha Sahoo.

Private schools in Delhi are in a fix over increasing the tuition fees in order to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay commission. Although the Delhi government has set a cap of Rs.500 per month, schools have not yet received any notification from the Directorate of Education (DoE).

HT Image

“Unless we get a notification from the DoE we cannot move forward. We have admitted students into nursery at the same fees as the previous year,” said Ameeta Wattal, principal, Springdales School, Pusa Road.

In contrast, the Srijan School in Model Town has hiked the tuition fee for nursery students. Although the hike has adhered to Delhi government guidelines, parents have been asked to shell out money in the garb of development fee and annual charges.

“When we applied for nursery they had said that tuition fees would be Rs 5,000 per month. But after the government directive, they have decreased that to Rs 3,325,” said parent Richa Chibber (name changed).

“However, the school has increased its annual charges from Rs 10,000 last year to Rs 15,000 this year. And we have been asked to deposit a one-time development fee of Rs 35,000,” said Chibber.

The school's development charges are one of the highest.

“Since they cannot charge high tuition fees, they are making up through other charges,” Chibber accused.

However, principal Anuradha Sharma insisted the DoE directive did not apply to fresh admissions.

“The fee structure is only for nursery. We are awaiting the DoE order and will also see what the National Progressive Schools Conference (NPSC) decide on,” said Sharma.

Ironically, in two years the total fees to be deposited by students at the time of nursery at the Srijan School has almost doubled. In 2007, parents had to pay a sum of Rs 34,000 during nursery admission. But this year they have to shell out Rs 61,000.

“A school cannot pay teachers from the development fund, which is used for maintenance and cannot be more than 15 per cent of the tuition fees,” said SL Jain, chairperson, NPSC, an umbrella organisation of 100 schools in Delhi.