Parents protest fee hike at P’kula school : The Tribune India

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Parents protest fee hike at P’kula school

Parents at DC Model School after a meeting with the principal on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: NITIN MITTAL

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 30

Many parents were in for a rude shock as they visited DC Model School today to pay the fee for their wards. The school decided to hike the monthly fee by 20 per cent and parents were up in arms against the move. They met the principal collectively but no solution was reached.

As per the school, they have given the option of paying the annual fee monthly and thus, the increase in the monthly fee was a confusion, which was cleared after they met the principal. Usha Gupta, the principal, said for junior classes, they had hiked the monthly fee from Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,600. However, the parents would not have to pay Rs 10,000 at the start of the academic year.

As per this, the yearly hike is 20 per cent. The principal said the parents still have the option of paying the annual charge now and continue to pay the same monthly fee. When fee slips were seen for the senior classes, a hike of 16 per cent was calculated.

DEO HS Saini said there was no fixed norm for limiting the fee hike. Schools have to fill a form indicating the proposed fee hike for the next session.

Unhappy parents said the school was looting them.

Kamaljeet Kaur, whose son studies in Class VI, said: “This is really unfair. Education is already so expensive.”

The parents said they were unhappy with the principal’s response and will take up the matter again.

School found selling curriculum books on campus

While any commercial activity is illegal on a school campus, DC Model School is selling curriculum books on the campus.

The principal said: “Parents had given a request to set up a shop in the school for their convenience, hence we, requested a shopkeeper who had been given a room for the purpose for a few days.”

The DEO said such an activity was illegal. “We have not received any such information. If it is true, we will take action against the school.” A parent said most books did not have printed rate on them and they had to pay whatever the shopkeeper demands from them.