Pvt schools in dock over fee demand

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 5

The Education Department has initiated strict action against certain private schools in Punjab for demanding fee from parents during the lockdown period.

Despite clear instructions from the Punjab Government not to seek fee during the period, some private schools had been sending messages to parents asking them to submit fee.

As per information, the department had issued an order on March 23 asking all private schools in the state to reschedule admissions for 2020-21.

The schools were directed to provide parents a 30-day window for submission of fee once the situation normalised. The schools had further been directed not to charge late fee or fine from students.

The authorities had regularly been warning schools against strict action for defying the orders.

“Despite repeated instructions, there were reports of some schools asking parents to pay fee of their wards after the results. We have initiated strict action against La Foundation School, Sangrur; DAV Public School, Bhupindra Road, Patiala; Bhupindra International Public School, Patiala; Delhi Public School, Ludhiana; and Mount Litera Zee School, Faridkot,” said Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla.

“We have issued show-cause notices and asked schools to file reply within seven days. In case of unsatisfactory reply, we will cancel their affiliation or the no objection certificate,” said Singla.

The minister added in case of future complaints against any school, these would be locked through the District Magistrate, an FIR would be registered and a reply sought from the school management.

Singla said parents could directly lodge their complaints in this regard on his email ID: vijayindersingla@gmail.com.

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Put on notice

“We have issued show-cause notices and asked schools to file reply within seven days. In case of unsatisfactory reply, we will cancel affiliation or NOC”

— Vijay Inder Singla, education minister, punjab