Private schools told to drop development fee in Rajasthan

The school fee regulatory committee in Rajasthan may altogether do way with development fee and membership fees charged by private schools from new academic session.

Retired high court justice Shiv Kumar Sharma on Thursday said: “Fees are being charged by private schools under various heads such as development, membership, admission, activities fee etc. We are not in favour of development and membership fees but tuition fee may stay on, which is important and necessary.

We are planning to link the increase in school fees to the wholesale price index.”

The new fee structure in private schools may come into effect from next academic session in Jaipur. The committee has sent notices to 402 schools in Jaipur to send their objections and suggestion on fee structure. The schools are also expected to submit their fee structure to the committee.

“We have given notices to schools to be replied within 30 days under Rajasthan School Fee Act 2013. After receiving their submission we will take 30 days time to come out with fee structure for private schools.” Sharma said. The committee has recently given notices to many prestigious schools in Jaipur cities, which were selling admission forms ranging from `500-2000. “We have given notices to few schools and have also told them to reduce admission fees from `10,000 to `2000 and half the activity fees from `12,000 to `6,000.” Sharma said.

The one member school fee regulatory committee was constituted as per Rajasthan School (Fee) Act 2013 passed by assembly for regulating fee structure of government, private and all aided schools. Gehlot government passed the law after huge uproar in society through media about exuberant fees charged by many schools in Jaipur.