PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: Over 40 private schools in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits have been served notices from June for blocking online education of their students who were unable to pay the fees on time.
According to Vilas Patil, grievance redressal officer in the PCMC, the notices were sent private schools after frequent complaints from parents.
“When a complaint is received, we visit the school to verify the nature of the complaint and whether there is any truth in it. In almost all of the cases, the complaints were true. Most schools tended to block the online classes of the students after parents failed to pay the requisite fees on time. However, under the Right to Education, Act, 2009, no student can be deprived of education,” he said.
Many schools allowed resumption of online classes to the respective students, but there are at least four private schools, against which there are many complaints.
Patil said they are going to recommend the deputy director of education to initiate action against such erring schools.
Activist Maruti Bhapkar said the state government should look into the matter and take strict action against such erring schools.
“The school management should offer discounts in fees because of the pandemic situation, but they want to take undue advantage,” he said, adding that he will write to the education minister.
Patil said parents can lodge complaints with the education department at schoolboard@pcmcindia.gov.in