Concerned over the recent fee hike decisions by several city-based English medium schools, activists of AJSU staged demonstration at education department’s office.
Protesting against the fee hike in private English medium schools every year, hundreds of activists from AJSU protested and started demonstrating in the morning. The police from Bistupur police station and Kadma police station had to lathicharge the protestors to control the situation. More than 150 activists of AJSU with their party flags raised slogans against the education system and the district administration. They also protested against re-admission charges and also to provide better amenities in government schools which can be at par with the private schools. The district education officer (DEO), Ashok Kumar Sharma was not present in his office during the protest.
Sanjay Singh party activist alleged that private city schools have been forcing their decisions on parents without going into any talks. The party will go for lock-up campaign at schools if immediate decision was not taken in favour of the parents. “If the schools fail to withdraw their decision the members of parents association will go for lock-up drive for indefinite days,” conceded SIngh. About a dozen people were injured in the lathicharge. The group comprised of youths as well as senior citizens. The BDO, Jamshedpur, Dayanand Karjee also reached there.
Rajeshwar Rao, an activist said, “We have no other choice but to protest and lodge complain to administration . Now it is their duty to intervene into the matter and ensure that the English medium schools follow the rules.” He said that according to norms, schools can only increase fee from three to five per cent but the schools are flouting the norms and rules. But schools are planning 30 per cent hike.