Schools must take PTA nod 10 months before hiking fees

Parents of students in private schools are a step closer to having a say in fee hikes.

Parents of students in private schools are a step closer to having a say in fee hikes.

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Private schools will have to get proposed fee hikes approved by their Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) 10 months before implementing it, states the draft of a proposed law to regulate school fees issued by the school education department on Tuesday.

The draft will be on the state government website (www. maharashtra.gov.in) for suggestions and objections from the public until February 22.

The HT had reported in March 2010 that the Bansal committee on regulation of fees had recommended that the PTA should approve fee hikes.

The draft says that if the PTA approves the hike, the management will have to inform a divisional fee regulatory committee. If there is a disagreement between the PTA and the management on more than 15% of the proposed fee hike, the divisional committee will adjudicate.

The divisional committee — comprising a retired high court judge and school education department officials — will then determine the fees based on factors such as the school’s location, infrastructure and expenditure. The committee’s decision will be valid for three years.