Add fee issue in manifesto: Parents’ body to parties

Vadodara: The All Gujarat Parents Association on Saturday said that parents across the state will support only those political parties who assure that fees charged by private schools in the state are regulated.

The association has demanded that political parties contesting in the upcoming assembly elections should include the fee regulation issue in their manifestos.

"We have decided that only those parties and candidates who commit to regulate the fees charged by private and unaided schools will get support of parents," said Naresh Shah, president of the association while addressing media persons here.

"Also, we want that English medium schools which provide quality education to kids should be set up in all the 182 assembly constituencies of the state. We are ready to support those candidates who include this in their party manifesto," said Shah, demanding a stricter implementation of the Right to Education Act.

The association has also demanded that while the monthly fees for students enrolled in class one to class eight should be fixed at Rs 1,200, for students enrolled in class IX and class X it should be fixed at Rs 2,000. Similarly, the fees of students enrolled in class 11 and class 12, should be fixed at Rs 2,500 per month.

"Also, the student strength per class should not exceed 35 and teachers should be provided training to teach in English," he said, alleging that although the state government had passed the Gujarat Self-Financed School (Regulation Fees) Act 2017, the government has now brokered a deal with the management of private schools.