Noida schools get one week to justify fee hike

District magistrate BN Singh asked the private schools to submit their fee structures, along with the reason for increasing the fee, in a week. Else, action will be taken, he warned.

The district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar BN Singh directed all private schools to submit their fee structures in one week before it is sent to the state government.

Parents across Delhi-NCR have been protesting for the last four months against the ‘arbitrary’ fee hike by private schools.) (Sunil Ghosh/ HT File Photo)

In the wake of continued protests by parents over fee hike by private schools in Noida, a meeting among the district administration officials, education department officials, representatives of Central Board of Secondary Education and private school bodies was held on Thursday evening in Noida.

Singh had asked schools to submit reports stating the reason for the fee hike after several parents had approached the administration seeking its intervention.

“After we had sought reports from private schools, many had complied with the order but few schools have still not submitted their fee structure. They have one week to submit their report. Also, schools that have omitted the mention of fee hike in their financial report have a week’s time to submit all details,” said Singh.

The district magistrate further said that the administration is compiling a detailed report and any school that has not sent a detailed report will face the heat.

“We will be submitting our detailed report to the state government after compiling the reports. Details of schools that have not submitted correct reports will be forwarded to the state government and they will be held responsible for submitting incomplete reports,” said Singh.

Parents across Delhi-NCR have been protesting for the last four months alleging arbitrary fee hike by private schools and demanded a regulatory body to structure fees for private schools. Many parents also expressed their concern over the possibility of their wards facing action from school bodies due to their protest.

Taking cognizance of this problem, Singh said,“Under no circumstance shall a school force a student to leave his/her schooling. If any school issues a transfer certificate to a student, action will be taken against that school.”

Regarding admission of students through Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota, Singh said that all private schools have been given a list of 1,200 children belonging to poor sections to avail of 25% seats for them under Right to Education.

“If any person gives false financial data to avail of seats under this quota, a complaint will be lodged against him/her,” said Singh.