Edu dept to investigate school for charging unauthorised fee

After parents complained that the school was denying entry and withholding mark sheets of students for not paying the ‘’fund fee’’ in April, the Agripada police has asked the education department to conduct an inquiry into St Joseph’s Girls School, Agripada.

After parents complained that the school was denying entry and withholding mark sheets of students for not paying the ‘’fund fee’’ in April, the Agripada police has asked the education department to conduct an inquiry into St Joseph’s Girls School, Agripada.

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One of the parents had lodged a police complaint against the school in April, alleging that the school had denied entry to a few students of Class 9 for not paying Rs1,500 as development fee or the “fund fee” which included child development and activity fee.

In a recent letter issued by the Agripada police, the education department has been asked to carry out an inquiry into the parents’ complaints. “The principal of the school, Lovena Almeida is collecting unauthorised fees and the receipts being issued do not carry the school address. The education department should look into this matter,’’ stated the letter.

The school principal was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to contact her.

‘“The school is charging unauthorised fees and it is violating the Prohibition of Capitation Fee Act. Why is the police not acting on this complaint?’’ asked Nanasaheb Kute Patil, an activist who had filed a Right to Information petition on the investigation of the police.