Gurugram: Parents protest hike in schools’ fee, say it's not legal
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Gurugram: Parents protest hike in schools’ fee, say it's not legal

Divisional Commissioner of Gurugram Range finds anomalies in balance sheet of six schools, orders a fresh audit and forbids further hike in fee until audit is completed.

Gurugram: Parents protest hike in schools’ fee, say it's not legal

After Ghaziabad, it is residents of Gurugram who are reeling under the burden of hike in fees of private schools. The district education department, however, seems helpless on the issue.

Manoj Kaushik, district education officer of Gurugram, said, “Enhancement of fee for every academic session is decided at the level of the state education officer and the recent fee hike was justified by Haryana education board. So, there is no point in discussing the issue as most of the schools have cited valid reasons for expenditure.”

Most of the private schools in the city have enhanced fee by more than 10 per cent on the account of tuition, transportation and other activities. According to residents, schools are also flouting norms of Haryana education board by being involved in commercial activities like selling books, stationery and school dresses. At least twelve parents have knocked on the doors of Gurugram civil court seeking its intervention and demanding a roll-back of fees.

RS Rathi, president of Qutub enclave RWA, said, “On one hand, the Gurugram district education officer is justifying fee-hike of prominent private schools, but on the other hand, the divisional commissioner of Gurugram range has found anomalies in the balance sheet of at least six schools. He has ordered an inquiry into the matter and a fresh audit of balance sheets of six schools, including DPS, Sushant Lok.”

The other schools are Delhi Public School (Sector 45), Amity International School (Sector 43), Pathways World School (Aravalli), Pathways World School (Gurgaon-Faridabad Road) and CCA School (Sector 4). These schools have been asked not to increase their fees until the audit is completed. But, district education department has given green signal to nine schools to hike fees. Rathi added, “We have raised nine points before the education department regarding illegal hike in school fees. Despite this, district administration is showing a callous attitude in the matter”