In a victory of sorts for the parents of the students of Mount litera Zee School, Doiwala, the school management has conceded that it would not charge the annual fees till the new building of the school is completed. The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school was demanding that the school should not charge the said fees as it has not provided the promised facilities to the students. The parents had lodged a complaint against the school management to the District Magistrate of Dehradun who ordered the Chief Education Officer (CRO) of Dehradun S P Khali and SDM Doiwala to intervene in the issue. These officers visited the school on Monday and held discussions with the members of PTA and school management. After the deliberations the school management given a written assurance that the annual fees of Rs 5500 would be charged only after the students are provided promised facilities. Biting a humble pie, the management also assured that no student would be harassed for fees. The school sought time period of two months to fulfill its entire obligation.
The Vice President of the PTA of the school, Yogesh Raghav told The Pioneer that the school has not kept similar promises in the past too. He alleged that the school administration harassed the wards of the members of the PTA and locked them in conference room of the school for some hours on Monday. Raghav said that the school has served legal notices to them for non payment of the annual fees and even included the names of the students in the notices, which is most unfortunate. The parents charged that on August 20 the Principal of the school called some of the students to her office and threatened that they would be debarred from entering the school if the annual fee is not deposited by their parents. These parents said that the school is in third year of its establishment but its building is yet to be completed and the school is devoid of basic facilities like hygienic toilet and pure water. They further alleged that the school is yet to get the recognition of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The parents reportedly got furious when they realized that the school is making the students sit in an old building which could pose danger to there lives.
The state President of the All Uttarakhand Parents Association, Neeraj Singhal said that it is unfortunate that the school management is targeting only the wards of the members of the PTA. He said that the school sent notices to the Pradeep Negi, Yogesh Raghav, Harendra Bisht, Ramesh Bhatt and Depak Pathak while 200 parents of the school had not deposited the annual fees in accordance with an agreement with the school management.
When contacted, the Principal of the school, Niti Silwal sought to downplay the entire episode.
She said that the issue is now over and claimed that the charges of the harassment by some parents are false. Silwal further claimed that the new building of the school is almost ready and students would soon be shifted there.
The CEO Khali said that the matter is sorted out and strict action would be taken against the school if the violation of the agreement reached on Monday is noticed.