Mazagaon school gets de-recognition notice for charging capitation fees

The education department on Tuesday de-recognised the 150-year-old St Mary’s High School in Mazagaon on charges of charging capitation fees.

The education department on Tuesday de-recognised the 150-year-old St Mary’s High School in Mazagaon on charges of charging capitation fees.

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The future of around 959 students of is at stake now.

The de-recognition notice was sent after the school failed to provide appropriate explanations for all the shortcomings found during an investigation following complaints by parents claiming that the school had raised nearly Rs1.45 crore through capitation fees.

The school management is going to appeal against the order.

“The order has been deliberately passed close to the school reopening to jeopardise a recognised, private and minority educational institution of repute. The management of the school is being harassed by those with vested interests and political connections,” stated a press release sent by the school.

In March, the school got a show-cause notice from the deputy director of education’s office, which sought explanations on allegations such as infrastructural shortcomings and lack of educational materials. However, officials said the school did not respond to the summons for hearings by the director.

The notice letter sought explanations on a total of 10 allegations, including lack of infrastructure, collection of capitation fees, PTA (Parents Teachers Association), no toilets in the four-floor building for students as well as teachers, debate over approval of the principal and also questions raised over 2008-09 terminal results of 55 students, which were claimed to have been be manipulated.

“School representatives failed to show up for four hearings for various reasons. They did not come for the hearing scheduled for May 24 because they said the father was admitted to hospital,” said Kute Patil, an activist and one of the parents who had lodged complaints against the school.