Parents protest against school admin

Pune: Parents of the students studying at MIT Vishwashanti Gurukul Schools are protesting against the school administration alleging that the school has illegally hiked fees by 15 per cent; charged late fees and changed the affiliation from the state board to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The parents also gheraoed the Principal of the school, Madhuri Gokhale, at her office on Saturday.

According to the Fee Regulation Act, schools can propose to hike fees by 15 per cent; however, parents claimed that the school did not take prior permission from the District Fee Regulation Committee (DFRC). The school raised the fees from Rs 22,000 to Rs 25,300.

“Besides, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) had several times demanded the balance sheet of school’s profit and loss. 

However, the school didn’t reveal any details. We wanted to have transparency about the fee hike so that we understand the reason behind the school’s demand for hike in fees,” said Archana 
Damdere, a parent.

The parents also claimed that the school has now charged late fees on the increased academic fee, which is yet to be finalised. “The 15 per cent fee hike has not been approved by the PTA, without which they issued a notice to parents about the late fee charges. They plan to charge Rs 100 per week as the late fees,” said Damdere.

The parents also claimed that despite the disagreement on changing the affiliation board, the school went ahead with the change. “Around 7-8 months ago, all parents had voted on whether to have the CBSE pattern or not. Almost 80 per cent of the parents rejected the new board but still, the school went on to implement it,” said Sanjay Joshi, another parent.

Parents alleged that the move is intended to mint money. Joshi said, “If they change the board affiliation, then they will be able to charge double the fees now.” Even after several attempts, the school management didn’t respond to Sakal Times calls.