UP Governor Ram Naik on Monday promulgated `Uttar Pradesh Self Financed schools (fee fixation) Ordinance 2018 on Monday. Yogi Adityanath cabinet had approved the draft ordinance on April 3. The government had to bring the ordinance as the state legislature is not in session. All the minority educational institutions will also be covered by the Ordinance.
Under the Ordinance, a fee regulatory committee will be formed in every division with special powers to resolve cases relating to fee hike. As per the ordinance private schools, including minority-run, which charge at least Rs 20,000 as annual fee and hold classes from standard I to the secondary-level, will fall under its ambit. The objective of the Ordinance is to improve academic quality and provide relief to the parents of additional financial burden.
The ordinance would include CBSE, ICSE as well as schools affiliated to UP secondary Education Board. The schools as per the ordinance will be required to upload their fee structure at least 60 days before the start of the academic session and would not be allowed to charge “admission fee” every year from the same student.
Schools will also not be allowed to change uniforms for at least five years and in case they wished to, they would have to appeal before the divisional committee headed by the divisional commissioner , which would also include representation from parents and guardians. Further, schools would be required to show their income from commercial activities within the premises, and have to raise the salary of teachers accordingly without increasing the fee.
The Ordinance provides for Rs 1-lakh fine for the first violation, Rs 5-lakh fine for a repeat offence and a recommendation for de-recognition for a third strike. The “optional fee” will be applicable to only those who availed the optional facilities. The Ordinance will not include the schools which run only classes from I to V.