Private schools flout fee norms, when will authorities act?

Sanjay R Murty | NT
Bengaluru

Of late, Bengaluru’s private schools – especially those run by managements owning chains of schools across the state (or country) have been garnering attention for the wrong reasons. Another popular chain of schools in the city has now been accused of flouting rules pertaining to collection of fees.

Parents say that the school has not been allowing them to pay their children’s school fees in instalments, as they should have been according to the rules. Though non-compliance in this matter is widespread, parents of this particular school have taken the matter to the Education Department’s zonal authorities, but in vain.

Parents of children studying in National Public School, Yeshwanthpur have repeatedly approached the Block Education Officer (North 1) at Rajajinagar requesting him to act against the school for non-compliance. “The BEO said that he has sent a letter to the school authorities, but they deny having received any communication from the office,” Sachindra D, a parent, told News Trail.

A group of 15 parents also approached the District Education Regulating Authority (DERA) headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban district to complain. Officials at DERA reportedly refrained from taking a complaint citing a stay order by the High Court of Karnataka on taking action against private unaided schools.

“We examined the court’s order and found no such stay. Parents from another private school had filed a writ petition, following which the High Court instructed DERA to dispose (complete the proceedings) of the complaints it received,” said Kehsav Shekar H.E., a parent. He added that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) amended its affiliation bylaws in 2017 to curb harassment by schools. The amended by-law directed the schools to follow the relevant fee regulations set by the State Government.

“We were unaware of these provisions till the pandemic hit. When we confronted the school authorities regarding this, we were asked to either pay up or admit our wards to another school,” he said.