CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan on Saturday demanded de-recognition of private schools that had failed to abide by the recommendations of the Justice Govindarajan Committee on fee structure.
Talking to reporters in connection with ‘Save education conference' being organised by his party on Sunday, he said the government should take steps to display the fee structure on the notice board of every school.
“This is one way of informing parents about the fee structure. It can also host the information on the Internet.” .
When told about Justice Govindarajan's clarification that he had no power to act against the erring schools, Mr. Ramakrishnan said the direction issued by the Supreme Court showed that the government had the power to take action against such schools. “The government should never entertain the pleas of private schools for increasing the fees,” he said.
Privatisation of education had widened the gap in the quality of education accessible to the poor and rich.
Mr. Ramakrishnan alleged that the government was hesitating to take action against private schools, because all Ministers in the Cabinet, barring School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu, were running schools.
“Many people are running schools and colleges because they have realised that it is more lucrative than running a spinning mill or sugar factory.”
On equitable standard education, he said though the concept was good, the purpose would be defeated if the schools were allowed to buy books from private publishers.
DMK criticised
Criticising the Congress-led UPA government for further increasing the price of petroleum products, Mr. Ramakrishnan accused the DMK of adopting double standards on the issue.
“Petroleum Minister Murali Deora said that the DMK and the NCP supported the Cabinet decision to hike the price. But, Union Minister M.K. Alagiri has said that the hike will affect people severely. The DMK must explain its stand. If it does not agree with the Cabinet decision Mr. Alagiri should resign.”
