Parents ask cops to file FIR against St Lawrence school

NASHIK: Parents of the students of St Lawrence High School on Saturday night filed a complaint at the Ambad police station against the institute under Anti-capitation Fee Act, 1987. Now, they want the police to lodge an FIR against the school.
On June 24, both the parents and the school administration filed police complaints against each other. Parents have been opposing the alleged fee hike by the school, along with Forum Against Commercialisation of Education (FACE).
Some of the parents had been opposing the fee hike since December last year and had sought the help of FACE, a social organisation working for education-related issues. Parents decided not to pay the fee till it is reduced and have been standing outside the school gate everyday.
On Sunday, the parents and FACE members met the police for filing an FIR. However, the police asked them to give two more days for doing so.
“Police need some time to inquire and we have decided to wait for two days,” said Dinanath Chowdhary, one of the volunteers of FACE.
“As per the Anti-capitation Act, the fee that has not been approved by the government is capitation. The school has not taken permission for increasing the fee since the last 10 years. Besides, once the fee hike is approved, it cannot be increased till three years. However, the school has been increasing the fees by 20-21% every year,” said Milind Wagh, an office-bearer of FACE.
He said the police asked for more data about their claims. Wagh said earlier this month, they had also submitted a letter of the civic administration’s education officer to the school regarding the fee issue.
“We will give time to the police to inquire and file an FIR. However, we don’t just want an FIR but some action as well. Ealrlier, FIRs have been filed against two more schools but no action has been taken yet,” he added.
Meanwhile, the school authorities denied the allegations of troubling the children whose parents were opposing the fee hike. “They stand by the gate and try to influence other parents. They also bring parents of other schools. It is only a handful of parents who are opposing the hike,” said a school official on the condition of anonymity.