The State Assembly’s Select Committee formed to re-examine the Bill presented by the State Government over fee hike by private schools is in the favour of inducting locals MlAs into the panels proposed to come up at district levels. The Assembly had given time till February 15 to the Select Committee to give its recommendations, which is likely to be extended.
“The members of the Committee are unanimous in recommending inclusion of local MlAs in the panel to be formed in various districts for fixing the fee of private schools of that area.
We have studied some of the guidelines existing in some other states and working on a report with recommendations which do not violate the guidelines of CBSE etc,” said a member of the standing committee which met on Tuesday.
The Bill had caught controversy since the members cutting across party lines protested against denial of their role in the fee fixing committees.
Assembly Speaker Dinesh Oraon after all round demands had formed the Select Committee under the chairmanship of Education Minister Neera Yadav. legislators, including Radha Krishna Kishore, Badal Patralekh, Kunal Sarangi, Nirbhay Sahabadi and Randir Singh are its members.
The Assembly committee had met three times on previous occasions and the Tuesday meeting was attended by just two members—the Minister and BJP legislator Radha Krishna Kishore.
At the same time, the panel has also written to the Speaker for extending its term till April 15.
“The members are concerned about quality of education in private schools and, at the same time, want them to function. But we also want that the schools do not turn into just money making ventures.
We have also demanded extending the tenure since there is no session of the Assembly scheduled before June where the report is to be tabled.
The Select Committee wants to utilise the time for doing better research and prepare the report on that basis,” said the member.