A total of 7,275 schools have so far “raised objections” to the fee structure fixed by the Private Schools Fee Determination Committee, the statutory panel appointed by the State government.
Speaking to The Hindu , Justice K. Govindarajan, Chairperson of the Committee, formed to finalise the fee structure for private schools, said a team of auditors have been appointed to verify the calculations submitted by the schools as part of their appeal.
For the purpose of arriving at the fees, the Committee made use of the services of 200 teachers. Some schools had only mentioned the amount, without the supporting documents. Some others did not submit the fee particulars, while some institutions did not submit the questionnaire as a result of which the neighbourhood school's fee structure was taken into account, he said.
Mr. Govindarajan said if the auditor's certificate is attached as evidence, then the Committee would consider a revision in the fee structure. “We are going by the materials and justice will be meted out to parents and schools,” he said.
To a query whether any date has been set by which the schools would have to implement the revised fee structure, Justice Govindarajan said no deadline can be set as schools were yet to receive the letters. Chief Educational Officers (CEOs) in each district committee had been asked to look into cases where schools had not received them, he said.
About 74 parents from various districts represented to the Committee, complaining that schools were not abiding by the government's fee structure, for which CEOs had been asked to conduct an enquiry, he added.
CBSE schools receive fee structure
CBSE schools in Chennai and some other districts who have received their fee structure are contemplating the next course of action. The schools say that State government does not have a jurisdiction over private unaided schools, but can only verify the fee collected by them.
Quite a number of schools in districts have already gone on appeal to the Committee as well as kept the Regional Office in Chennai informed of their actions.
“The CBSE is a national body and whatever is levied in the State cannot be implemented uniformly across India. The State cannot regulate a fee structure on us,” said Chitra Sundarraman, principal, Pon Vidya Mandir, Karur.
Ms. Sundarraman added that if the school had to abide by at least the Vth Pay Commission to pay teachers, then how can they develop the school and meet the capital expense, among others.
Some schools have sought time from the Committee to fill the questionnaire. Most of the CBSE school heads in Chennai do not want comment on the issue on record. According to sources, informal meetings among the schools have begun.
