Rein in private schools on fee: Joint Action Committee

The Joint Action Committee for School Fee Regulation has asked the state government to rein in private school managements that are collecting exorbitant admission fees in the capital.

The forum consists of parents, teachers, a few NGOs and student organisations Students Federa-tion of India that is affiliated to the CPM, and All India Students Federation, students wing of the CPI, which usually fight on issues concerning  schools and colleges. The JAC is reaching out to the Opposition parties to garner support for their cause.

Mr Ashish Naredi of the Hyderabad School Parents Association, a constituent of the JAC, said that an all-party meeting would be held on March 9 to chalk out the future course of action. A protest rally to highlight the excesses of private schools is on the cards, he said.

“The TRS in its GHMC election manifesto, promised to look into the school fees issue. The all-party meet is aimed at sensitising political parties to the issue of fee hike and generating a consensus towards passing a Bill in the Legislature for establishing a fee regulatory body for private schools,” he said.

JAC member Seema Agarwal urged the government to ensure that no school hikes admission fee in the next academic year. Mr N. Narayana of the United Teachers Forum, Prof. Vimala of the Telangana Women’s Collective, advocate G Sharada Goud of Rapid’s Praja Manch, Mr Dhanasiri Prakash of Child Rights Protection Forum and a few NGOs pledged their support.

Many orders issued by the school education department on fee regulation had remained on paper for a long time, Mr Narayana said. “The notices served to 12 private schools looks like an eye wash. No wonder fees in the state capital are the highest when compared to other states,” he said.