In a move to deter private schools from hiking fees on a regular basis, the education ministry has cleared a proposal to provide them with grants so that these schools can pay off bills for amenities like water, electricity, salaries to non-teaching staff etc.
The system of giving non-salary grants had been discontinued in 2004 on the grounds that the state did not have sufficient funds for the same. After the state’s move, schools arbitrarily started increasing fees on the pretext of covering administrative expenses.
The grant, however, been reduced to five per cent from the earlier 12 per cent of the total expenses. “Through numerous complaints to the government and petitions in the HC, activists, NGOs and parents protested the arm-twisting tactics of schools, which prompted the education ministry to reconsider providing grants,” said J.M. Abhyankar, former chairman of the MSBSHSE and member of the committee set up for looking into the fee hike issue.
Rajendra Darda, minister of state for school education and sports said, “The declaration has been made keeping in mind the problems and troubles faced by schools.”