In a major decision, the Education Minister of Uttarakhand, Arvind Pandey has directed that the money charged by the private schools from the parents in the name of re-admission fee should be refunded.
On Tuesday, the minister met some parents at his Vidhan Sabha office. They complained about dictatorial attitude of private school owners. Taking immediate cognizance, the minister directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Dr Ranvir Singh to order the district Magistrates (DM) of all districts that the readmission fees charged by the private schools should be refunded immediately.
He also said that the fees charged under heads likes sports, entertainment and others too should be refunded if it is found that the schools are not providing the facility for which money is being charged. Taking a serious note of complaints of arbitrary hike in fees every year, the education minister said that all fees increase cases should be monitored by respective district administrations. On the day, some parents whose wards are studying in the lovedale School, Dehradun also met the education minister outside the Vidhan Sabha.
The parents charged the school administration for increasing fees every year and charging undue fees under heads like readmission.
They also charged the school administration for levying very high fees of Rs 500 for isnd suing Transfer Certificate (TC). Pandey called the Additional District Magistrate Dehradun, Vir Singh Budhiyal, City Magistrate, C S Martoliya and Superintendent of Police (SP), City Ajay Singh and directed them that a meeting between the parents and school management should be immediately called to sort the matter.