Parents protest fee hike; Kharghar school expels ten

The Vishwa Jyot School in Navi Mumbai has expelled 10 students. Reason: Their parents refused to pay the school’s increased fees.

The Vishwa Jyot School in Navi Mumbai has expelled 10 students. Reason: Their parents refused to pay the school’s increased fees.

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The ICSE school in Kharghar had increased its fees by 40 per cent — from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,700 a month — in June. About 175 parents protested the hike, saying that it was against the recent directives of the state government. On Tuesday, parents of 10 students received their children’s school leaving certificates by post.

“The certificate states that our children have been expelled for non-payment of fees and approaching the media and ruining the reputation of the school,” said Ashok Pawar, whose two sons have been expelled. “We will only pay fees when the school justifies the cost and reveals its balance sheets.” Pawar added that 10 days ago, 150 children, whose parents were protesting the hike, were made to sit outside class as punishment.

School authorities said the hike was justified. “We held a general body meeting in February where parents debated and voted for the hike and the circular was sent in April. Parents had three months to approach us,” said Sushma Dhumal, director of the school.