29 city schools in spot

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 12

Swinging into action after much delay over the ongoing issue of profiteering by private schools through the sale of textbooks, uniforms, stationery and other items on the school premises, the Chandigarh Education Department today issued four circulars against 29 schools.

Confirming the development, Education Secretary Sarvjit Singh said the Director, School Education, had issued four circulars today. He, however, refused to give details. According to sources, one circular each has been issued to the school heads, the Estate Office, the Excise and Taxation Department and the State Transport Authority seeking action against the 29 schools.

In the circular issued to the school heads, the Education Department has stated that the complaints received from parents against the schools were found to be true during an inquiry. The sources said the department had warned the schools that it had written to the CBSE to withdraw recognition of schools found indulging in profiteering.

The sources said in the circular issued to the Estate Office, the Education Department had sought penalty on 15 schools under the "Allotment of Land to Educational Institutions (Schools) on Leasehold Basis in Chandigarh Scheme -- 1996" for alleged sale of textbooks, uniforms, stationery and other items with the motive of making profits.

Notably, in the draft of fee regulation policy, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh on erring schools was recommended.

In the circular issued to the Excise and Taxation Department, the Education Department has stated that complaints received against 23 schools had been found true during an inquiry conducted by a five-member committee set up by the department. The Excise and Taxation Department had been asked to check the records regarding VAT payment by schools last year and if found guilty of VAT evasion, the schools should be penalised, the sources said.

The sources said the Education Department had written to the State Transport Authority stating that the complaints received against three schools by the five-member committee were found true during an inquiry. The department had sought action against the three schools. The complaints received included lack of proper seating arrangements in schools buses for children and their use during vacations for tourist purposes.

Sale of textbooks, uniform & other items

Schoolspeak

"Once again, the Education Department seems to be at sea, not knowing how to settle an issue raised by it. The department issued an advertisement, extended time to receive complaints, but in the end got only 70 complaints from parents against 37 private schools -- not even two per school despite the fact that each school has over 1,500 students. It is evident that the department is not interested in encouraging private education and would rather spend months to find ways and means to browbeat private schools. They have ignored Supreme Court judgments that hold that institutions can work on all connected issues." HS Mamik, president, Independent schools association, Chandigarh

Parentspeak

"I wonder why the Education Department is shying away from taking direct action and is instead passing the buck on to other departments. The department should issue show-cause notices to the erring schools and initiate proceedings for withdrawing the recognition." Nitin Goyal, president, Chandigarh parents association