Delhi government orders school to roll back fee hike

The Delhi government on Friday issued an order to G.D. Salwan Public School in Rajinder Nagar to roll back its fees hike, days after a similar order was issued to two branches of the Delhi Public School in the city.

The AAP government pulled up the school after 250 parents had met deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and alleged that the school had increased the fees by 12 per cent for entry-level classes and by 10 per cent for senior classes without seeking prior sanction from the government.

Other allegations levelled by the parents included charging of fees for mid-day meals, forcing parents to buy books printed by private publishers and use school transport to ferry their children to school and charging economically weaker section (EWS) students on account of books and uniforms among others.

“The management of the Salwan Public Schools is directed to refund the enhanced fees to the parents collected so far for the academic session 2016-17 and submit a clarification on fixing the excess fees from nursery class in comparison with other classes,” directorate of education director Saumya Gupta said in a communication to the school.

“The school shall not force parents to buy books of private publishers or from fixed vendors. No amount should be charged from EWS students on account of books and uniforms and the school should also constitute a parent-teacher association,” the order added.

Citing rules, the order said all private unaided recognised schools built on land allotted by DDA/other government agencies on concessional rates or otherwise shall not increase tuition fees without prior permission of the directorate.

The management committees of the school have also been directed to send compliance reports within seven days and the AAP government has warned them of action under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973. Meanwhile, the school authorities could not be reached for their comments on the issue.

The Kejriwal government had last week issued orders to Rohini and Mathura Road branches of the DPS.