Private schools, sought-after by parents, seem to be in no mood to respect the State government’s decision, directing them not to hike school fee for this year till the Prof. Tirupati Rao Committee’s report was examined and approved.
Schools continue to violate the government orders, some openly and some discreetly. Some schools are however approaching a cautious path and reminding parents that the report was in their favour, particularly with regard to 10% fee hike every year and nothing much will emerge from the government’s study.
Parents want the government to strictly monitor the schools and respond quickly to their complaints on the issue.
They also fear that schools will adopt an innovative method to continue their ‘loot’, collecting the existing fee in the first term and change their module in the second and third terms when the heat is likely to be substantially lower.
“We are getting complaints from parents that some have already indicated to them about collecting the increased fee in the second and third terms while looking to follow the government order for the first term,” a representative of Hyderabad Schools Parents Association (HSPA) said.
Members of the HSPA, who have led a fight against fee hike over the last two years, feel the lack of fear among the schools regarding withdrawal of recognition or the NOCs issued for flouting norms is a serious concern.
However, the disrespect to the report by the school managements and strong reaction from parents has forced the government to serve memos to the managements of some top schools. The Directorate of School Education called the managements of over 20 schools that have acquired notoriety for fee hike. The Directorate also presented the copies of the government order to maintain status quo till the final call.
Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister, Kadiyam Srihari, asked the parents not to pay the increased fee when HSPA representatives met him to discuss the developments.
