The much-hyped complaints counter and helpline opened by the education department for registering the grievances of parents has failed in its objective as only 16 complaints have registered so far.
The counter was opened at the office of District Education officer (DEO) on April 11. The poor response of the parents suggests that they have lost faith in the department and believe that the education officials lack will to deal with hegemony of the private school owners.
It is pertinent to mention here that after public uproar over the dictatorial attitude of private school operators, the education department started the concept of complaints counter last year.
The department data reveals that last year 112 complaints were registered in the first twenty days as compared to only 16 this year.
Interestingly, the department had to deploy three employees last year at the complaints counter to register the grievances, in stark contrast only one person was seen sitting on the counter on Friday, he revealed to this correspondent that not even a single parent has called up on the helpline number from last seven days.
One of a department official on condition of anonymity said that parents response in the initial days when the complaints counter was set up last year was very good but it slowly fizzled out as the parents realised that the department is not is a position to deal with the complaints against the private schools.
The District Right to Education (RTE) coordinator Ajay Parihar said that most of the complaints received are about arbitrary increase in fees, charging money in the name of readmission charges, development fees and forcing the parent to buy stationery and books from select shops only.
He said that all the complaints have been forwarded to Block Education Officer and City Education Officer for necessary action.
It was learnt that the department serves a notice to the concerned school, gives a time period of one month to them to reply and in most cases the issue is closed with the reply of the school.
Experts suggest that the education department officers are not empowered to deal with the private schools as the department merely gives No Objection Certificate (NOC) to these schools and does not have any real power to deal with them afterwards.
The parents too have begun to realise the futility of filing complaints.
Sushil Sharma, a resident of GMS road, said the education department is toothless to deal with the private schools so there is no point is filing complaints and inviting the wrath of these schools.
He suggested that the State Government should make concrete laws to control these schools. The helpline numbers of education department for registering the complaints are 0135-2787027 and 0134-2789841.