State education dept forms squad to act against schools

Nagpur: After speaker Nana Patole’s censure, the State Education Department constituted a special squad to look into complaints against private schools, particularly those affiliated to CBSE and ICSE boards.
MLA Vikas Thakre, who accompanied Patole during the meeting with aggrieved parents at the collectorate, told TOI he too had received many complaints from the parents. He then apprised the speaker of their grievances, after which the latter decided to meet parents.
TOI has been reporting on parents protesting against alleged exorbitant fees charged by leading schools in the city by way of charges for sports, computers, library, laboratory and extra-curricular activities.
Senior officials told TOI the department was flooded with complaints from parents against a majority of private schools, but they used to cite stay by the Bombay High Court on Maharashtra government’s resolution (GR) of May 8.
The GR directed schools not to increase fees and recover only tuition and term charges. However, after receiving flak from the speaker, the deputy director of education constituted a panel of department officers.
“We have examined complaints against three schools from parents, who were present in the meeting with the speaker. Our reports are almost ready and we will soon take action against the schools,” the officials said, while refusing to name those schools.
They cautioned that action against private schools managements may be futile, as they were protected by HC’s stay on GR.
“Another factor that has tied our hands in acting against schools is that only a few parents are coming up with complaints. All parents must realize that complaints would carry weight only if more than 25% of them come forward, as per the laws. So even if we try to act against such schools, they will come out with a defence that only a few were complaining,” the officials said.
Adding that their action against schools wouldn’t stand in a court of law, the officials called on parents to gather at least 25% per standard so that their complaints would stand judiciary’s scrutiny.
“Amendments in ‘Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011’ by the previous government requires consent of at least 25% parents to reduce the fees through their parents-teachers association (PTA),” they said adding it was earlier 50%.
After either losing their jobs or having salary deducted due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, a majority of parents are demanding reduction in fees by 50% for this session on humanitarian grounds. According to them, even regular classes are not being held due to school’s closure and therefore, the managements were saving on power bills, maintenance and other charges.