PTA will decide on fee hike, says education dept

While the 10 students expelled from Vishwa Jyot School at Kharghar have been re-admitted, the education department said that the approval of the hike has to come from the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

While the 10 students expelled from Vishwa Jyot School at Kharghar have been re-admitted, the education department said that the approval of the hike has to come from the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

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The school is still to form a PTA and has sent a circular keeping out the parent protesting against the hike from the working committee of the PTA.

On Wednesday, Hindustan Times reported that the 10 students had been expelled because their parents were protesting the 40 per cent hike in monthly fee from Rs 1,200 to 1,700.

In a meeting that took place between the education department and the school on Thursday, the school was told to readmit the expelled children.

“We are still waiting for appropriate reports to decide whether the fee hike at Vishwa Jyot School is justified or not. So far we have only told the school to readmit the children,” said S.R. Chouhan, deputy director of the education department, who added that the hike needs PTA approval first.

School management said the circular was meant to ensure that the PTA was constructive rather than destructive.

“These parents are unwilling to sit across the table and talk to me, they only come in a mobs. I have no other choice but to protect myself,” said Sushma Dhumal, Director of the school.

What the circular says...

The circular, given to Hindustan Times by a parent, states: “parents who have disrupted the peace and normal functioning of the school in the past by bringing political parties and media, harming the reputation of the school and disturbing innocent minds, kindly excuse. Debatable issues should be discussed amicably within respectable jurisdiction rather than dragging them on the streets. School management and well wishers of the institution are not in favour of having such members on the PTA. Their nominations will not be accepted to avoid further disharmony.”