Taking note of ‘arbitrary’ and ‘substantial’ fee hike by affiliated schools, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday threatened disaffiliation if managements do not consult parent representatives before revising the fees.
In a press release, the board said that if schools violated any rule or bylaw, an audit of the funds of the school would be conducted by the board. The release also states that schools should not make a profit or misuse funds.
Noting that many schools are raising fees under various heads, it states that schools are not adhering to bylaws.
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The release also mentions that schools should be run as a community service and not as a business enterprise. It reiterated that schools should submit their account statement to the board every year. The circular states that savings after meeting the expenditure should be utilised for promoting the institution.
“Though, there is a need for the school management to generate sufficient financial resources to guarantee the continued existence of the institution, to meet the running expenses of the school, to maintain it at a reasonable standard, to pay salaries to teachers and staff regularly at least at par with the corresponding categories in the State government schools and to undertake improvement/development of school facilities, the school management should not make profit or misuse funds,” the release said.
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The attempt by the CBSE to bell the managements has been welcomed by parents who recently raised the issue and staged protests in the city in April. They have formed a collective under the banner of Karnataka Schools Parents Association, which has over 5,700 members on their Facebook page. Most parents complain that a majority of the schools do not consult parents before hiking fees and also that a large number of schools do not have parents’ association.
Nibedita R., a parent, stressed on the need to consult parents and evolve a formula before hiking fees. “But disaffiliating schools would only bring more hardship upon parents and jeopardise the academic future of students,” she said.
However a Block Education Officer, who has received complaints against CBSE schools, said, “As CBSE schools do not come under the purview of the State government, ensuring that schools do not violate bylaws will be a challenge.”
Most schools follow the CBSE bylaws. Fees should be on par with infrastructure. Private schools do not make profit, but are self-sufficient
— Mansoor Ali Khan,
General Secretary, Management of Independent CBSE Schools Association
The board should monitor schools closely. Parents have been suffering as schools hike fees every year. There is no accountability for the fees collected under various sub-heads.
— Mousumi Mahapatra,
a parent
What RTE
Act states
If a child is subjected to screening procedure, Rs. 25,000 fine on school for the first contravention and Rs. 50,000 for each subsequent contravention
If a school charges capitation fee, the penalty is ten times the amount
What the
bylaws state
Fees charges should be commensurate with facilities provided
Fees should be charged under heads prescribed by the Department of Education of the State/U.T.
No capitation fee or voluntary donations for admission or any other purpose