Parents of students from seven private schools in Pune said on Tuesday that their grievances over the fee hike remained unresolved despite a meeting with Education Minister Vinod Tawde in Mumbai on Monday.
Rupal Mahajan, parent of a student at Vibgyor High School, Pune, said, “The fees is now over ₹5 lakh per year. At Vibgyor, three boards are represented — CBSE, ICSE and Cambridge International Education — but there is just one Parent-Teachers Association (PTA). When we say something about the hike, the PTA says that one board or the other prescribed the rules. At today’s hearing, the principal of our school was not present. Two school management officials, whom we have never met before, presented the school’s case.”
Meera Dilip, parent of a student at Indira National School, Pune, said, “At the hearing, Mr. Tawde assured us that the Fee Regulation Act (2011) would be amended, but could take a long time. We have not received a clear direction as to whether schools will be disciplined or not.” Ms. Mahajan attended a meeting of the District Fee Regulatory Committee in Pune on Tuesday. Later this week, an eight-member parent committee will meet Mr. Tawde in Mumbai to discuss action to curb hikes.
