BENGALURU: The standoff between parents of students and private schools on the issue of fees continued. After the government ordered schools to cut fees by 30%, many parents have been calling schools seeking the new fee structure.
However, they have been told to wait since schools are planning legal action.
Voice of Parents, an association, said they will submit a memorandum to the education department over noncompliance.
“Some managements say the school is part of the association that has challenged previous orders in court and that the matter is subjudice,” said Shakeel of Voice of Parents.
“Others say they do not come under the state government’s ambit. Passing the order was great, but the government must ensure implementation too.”
A parent from Yelahanka said: “I called the school and they said they are yet to receive the government order. They come up with lame excuses. Meanwhile, my child continues to be barred from online classes although I have paid the first term fee.”
Last week, the government announced private schools can collect only 70% of the annual tuition fee for the current academic year. The government order said schools cannot collect fees under other headers like development fee.
V Anbukkumar, commissioner, public instruction, said the department will release details of grievance committees by Wednesday. “The list is almost ready. A committee will be set up at all DDPIs and parents can raise complaints,” Anbukkumar said.
However, Mansoor Ali Khan, secretary, Management of Independent CBSE Schools Association, suggested they will go by what courts decide. “Our action is subject to legal outcomes,” Khan said. “The high court is already hearing a case on the fee issue and we will take legal measures as well. There is no clarity on how the government arrived at this formula. However, we will not bar students who have paid the first term fee from online classes.”