No fee regulation law to control schools, no vote: Parents warn Centre

Parents from across India, including a delegation from Maharashtra, will soon meet Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi and submit their demands.

Angered by the Centre’s delay in drafting and introducing Central Fee Regulation Act, which will prevent schools from hiking fees arbitrarily, parents have threatened to opt for NOTA (None Of The Above) during 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The parents will meet minister of human resource development Prakash Javadekar on September 15 and submit their demands. (HT Photo)

Parents from across India, including a delegation from Maharashtra, will meet Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi on September 15 and submit their demands. This will be followed by a protest at India Gate on September 16.

“Each state has a different set of regulations when it comes to school fees. But state governments fail to punish institutes flouting the norms. If the government [Centre] doesn’t stop this loot, we won’t vote for any party,” said Anubha Sahai, a parent from Mumbai and president of India-wide Parents Association (IWPA).

In the past six months, parents groups across India have urged the Centre to introduce the fee act. They even floated an online petition, which was supported by 2 lakh people.

Sunil Chaudhari from Navi Mumbai parents association said he is part of the delegation going to New Delhi.

“The problem is CBSE/ICSE and international board schools think the government can’t do anything because they have their own structure in place. Most fee hikes happen in these private schools and parents are left helpless because the state does not act.”