Parents see red over continuous fee hikes

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Tuition fee hike in schools has become a cause of concern for many parents. Recently, parents of some children studying in the Ramjas School moved the Delhi High Court seeking a fee reduction, alleging the school had notched up an annual profit of `5 crores and there was no justification for a fee hike. Annoyed by the school’s rampant commercialisation of education by demanding extra fees without even prior notice, city parents are left hassled without any option.

Says Preeti Singh, a mother of two, whose children study in Delhi Public School, “As compared to last year, the fee has been increased three-fold. What is more annoying is the fact that I paid extra `6,000 for the new textbooks and uniforms, which change every year. And besides that, the project fees and extra charges for other extra-curricular activities are endless all year long. It does affect a middle class family’s budget. Is there a limit? If schools are increasing the fees then they should include other expenses in the same.”
Although in many city schools, including Bal Bharti Public School and Bhatnagar International, the fees hasn’t been hiked right now, parents expect an increase of upto 15 to 20 per cent in the coming months. Many also feel that there are periodic fee hikes even when the teachers are not well qualified and aren’t paid well.
Without divulging the name of the schools his two wards go to, Ashish Saxena reveals that the tuition fee has been raised by upto 20 per cent in the last two years. “I feel that the government should set up guidelines and set a reasonable maximum limit for fee hike. Besides the tuition fee, we’re even often asked to pay the building development fee or are charged for the add-on extra curricular activities like swimming pool and horse riding, even if our kids don’t take part in them. This further adds to expenses. And even after the hikes, teaches are under-qualified and poorly paid; so, where does all the money go?”
Although according to rules, all schools are required to cite reasons while seeking a fee hike, “but parents are never given prior notice,” says Navita Ahuja, a doctor. She adds, “There is a lack of transparency in this respect, leading to suspicion that the managements of some schools are so powerful that they get their requests easily approved. There should be a panel involving parents to monitor the functioning of the school. They should have a role in the decision-making process of the administration.”
But school authorities deny the allegations and say that the fee structure is always discussed with Parents Teachers Association prior to its implementation. Usha Ram, principal, Laxman Public School shares, “The hike in fee structure differs from school to school. It’s shocking to know that parents had no clue about it, but our school always makes sure that expenses are not a burden on parents’ budget.”