Wings of private schools clipped

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 6

With admissions for 2020-21 academic session beginning shortly, the Higher Education Department has issues instructions to private schools. It has cautioned the managements against selling books, stationery, uniforms and shoes in schools or asking parents to make purchase from specific shops and made it clear that charging building or development fund is not permissible.

Taking cognisance of protests by students and parents against a steep hike in fee and buying uniforms, stationery and shoes from schools or specific shops, the department has asked all schools to convene a meeting of the Parents Teacher Association (PTA), send the proposals to the government and also post the classwise fee structure and lists of books on the website.

The schools have been asked to charge admission fee only once, finalise tours for students in consultation with parents and also inform the SDM about it. Further, these programmes should be optional and not compulsory.

The schools will submit the details of the fees and other funds charged by them during the 2019-20 academic session and send the proposal regarding fee hike to the government.

The fee should be reasonable and aimed at helping in expansion of education and PTA be constituted in all schools with two-third members from among parents.

Director, higher education, Dr Amarjeet Sharma warned that if the instructions were not followed, action would be taken under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Compulsory Primary Education Act 1997 and 2003 Rules and even the NOC given to schools could be cancelled.

Instructions were issued last year also but some schools did not strictly follow these, the letter said.

No more burden on parents

• Parents will not be asked to make purchase from specific shops
• No building or development fund allowed
• Fee hike only after consultation with Parents Teacher Association
• Schools trips will be optional
• Schools will submit details of  fees and other funds charged by them during the 2019-20 academic session