CBSE, edu min urged to look into ‘lack’ of PTA in schools

Nagpur: Claiming that a majority of CBSE affiliated schools lack the mandatory provision of parents-teachers association (PTA), two lawyers rushed a letter to the central board’s Delhi headquarters and state education minister appealing to step in.
Quoting May 8 Government Resolution (GR) issued for Covid-19 pandemic, they said if any facilities are not used by the children resulting in savings to the school this year, the benefits like reduction in fees should be passed on to the parents.
“The decision was to be taken in the PTA’s Executive Committee as per the Department of School and Sports’ GR. In its absence, the parents are deprived of such benefits while the schools are profiteering,” said the lawyers, Nitin Lalwani and Roshan Kale.
The duo claimed that most of these schools — including one of the topmost schools where their children are studying — also didn’t follow provisions of the ‘Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011’.
“As per Section 4 of the Act, it’s mandatory that every private school shall constitute PTA. The duty is cast upon head of the institution, within 30 days from the beginning of each academic year. Every parent would be its member by paying Rs50 in urban and Rs20 in rural areas. The legislation further stipulates the formation of PTA’s Executive Committee and its configuration.”
Citing Section 3 of the Act, the legal practitioners said it mandates that no school shall charge excess fees from the students. “While the school management shall propose the fees, the PTA’s Executive Committee may either approve the proposal or reject it. However, in absence of PTA it can’t be done, thereby defeating the very purpose of the enactment.”
Lalwani and Kale stated that due to non-compliance of provisions by the CBSE schools, the government directives in May 8 GR couldn’t be followed.
“It’s necessary that the authorities exercise their powers and take appropriate steps to ensure that PTA is constituted in every school and all provisions of the Act are strictly followed,” they said in the copy of letter that was also sent to the Ministry of Human Resources Development.
# Functions of PTA as per fee act
* Get information about fees for tuition, term & for co-curricular activities as decided by executive committee
* Observe completion of syllabus as per the planning
* Suggest measures and steps to be taken for academically weaker students
* Assist school for planning other co-curricular activities and assess its need