Navi Mumbai: Parents of students studying in Ryan Group’s St. Joseph School in New Panvel have won a two-year battle over fees hike.
On Thursday, Panvel City Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sudhakar Shinde had to interfere after the agitating parents along with MLA Prashant Thakur refused to disperse till a decision was made. The demonstration that started at around 9 a.m. ended by 8.30 p.m. after an order liming the fees of last year and current year to ₹15,000 was passed.
“The management has been harassing parents and students over fees. After coming to know that the parents are fighting for justice, and after studying all papers, I decided to support them. If the management uses influence, we will use democracy,” said Mr. Thakur.
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According to parents, the education department conducted an audit of the school, and in their report, they mentioned that from 2007, the fees that had been demanded from the parents are illegal. “As per the fee regulation Act, the school had been excessively charging in various forms. We demand that the school refund the excess fees that they had charged. A school can increase the fees by 15% in every two years, but this school has been increasing by more than 15% every year,” said Manisha Patil, parent of a Class V student.
The MLA said the parents were made to pay ₹30,000 under various heads. Now with the decision of the commissioner, they will have to pay only ₹15,000. “The permission of running the school had expired on March 7, 2015, and after that they did not apply. So technically, this school is running without permission.”
Mr. Thakur also said that the deputy director of education has recommended to the minority department that the minority status of the school be revoked as it does not meet the criterion. As per rules, the school needs to have a certain number of students from minority communities.
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“We are afraid that our children will be mistreated by the management. Earlier, we have received mark sheets with a red mark that said ‘problematic parents’. Our fight to get the refund of the excess fees paid will be discussed in the next PTM,” said Gaurav Shinde, another parent.