No one really cares about it.
In an interim order, the Delhi High Court allowed private unaided schools in the national capital to charge the increased fee from their students…The Court, however, made it clear that it is only an interim order and if it came to the conclusion that fee is excessive then schools have to refund the amount with nine percent interest per annum to the students
What was the case?
The schools have been demanding up to 50% hike in tuition fees in order to give teachers a raise and arrears in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. The DoE has created five slabs on the basis of the existing tuition fees in schools, allowing them a maximum fee hike of Rs.500…
The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by the Delhi Abhibhavak Sangh, Social Jurists, an NGO, and Faith Academy Parent’s Association through counsel Ashok Aggarwal, alleging the government had gone contrary to the recommendation given by S L Bansal Committee, constituted to look into the fee hike by schools.
What was the final decision regarding the amount of the fee hikes? Are these hikes really “irrational” as some NGOs have complained?
The NCT government had on February 11 had allowed increase in the fee. It was directed that on existing tuition fee of upto Rs 500, the schools can increase upto Rs 100. Schools were allowed to increase fee by upto Rs 200 if they are charging between Rs 501 to Rs 1000. Similarly, in case of tuition fee of Rs 1,001-Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,501- Rs 2,000, the schools were allowed to increase their fee by Rs 300 and Rs 400 respectively and for tuition fee beyond Rs 2,000 the schools were allowed to hike upto Rs 500.
I think that these fee hikes are moderate – if not because of pay commissions, then simply because of the desire to improve school infrastructure . If there is no commensurate increase in quality of the schools even then (lets say because the extra fees was stolen by the school authorities), then parents are allowed to change schools. Well – but its not that easy, right? But then its not easy for established schools to swindle students too. They also have a reputation to defend.
But one might say that even a Rs. 100 hike is too steep for the really poor? But all these above regulations are only for recognized private unaided schools. Many of the poor, as this beautiful book - The Beautiful Tree – by James Tooley tells you, study in unrecognized private unaided schools. They have already foregone the benefits of “free” government schools, and “recognized” private schools to go for an education which gives much more bang for the buck compared to govt. schools, and sometimes even recognized private schools.
Some Delhi-specific data from the above-mentioned book.
Average Class Size (generally the lower the better)
Govt. schools - 42
Recognized. pvt. – 37
Unrecognized pvt. – 14
Average Math raw scores
Govt. schools - 38
Recognized. pvt. – 62
Unrecognized pvt. – 61
Avg. monthly Per-pupil teacher cost
Govt. schools - 6 dollars
Recognized. pvt. – 3 dollars
Unrecognized pvt. – 3 dollars
What the above data show us is that private schools are definitely better than government schools (perhaps with the exception of the elite Kendriya Vidyalyas) – but that even within private schools, recognized and unrecognized fare almost equally on costs and math scores. On class size, unrecognized schools are in fact better, but recognized ones may have other “soft facilities” like playgrounds and libraries etc.
Therefore, private-public is what matters, not government recognitions or regulations. Which, if one thinks about it, makes sense. In private schools there is market accountability and pressures, whenever the government comes in we just have sinecure jobs and corrupt officers.
If there must be judicial activism then it must not be about what fees and salaries private schools can set, but whether the state can help private schools through vouchers and less onerous regulations (my previous posts on school vouchers here, here)
But the even more fundamental point for the judiciary is to understand the sanctity of any private, unaided organization. Even forgetting the efficiency-enhancing capability of potential schools, a private school must have the right to set its fees and salaries as it wants.
And hey, if some judges and activists think it is too high, they can always enter the market and open a cheaper, better school!
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It’s not just in Delhi. In Maharashtra there is a new rule stating that the fees for ALL schools will be decided by a government comittee. This includes IB schools, private schools and government schools. Not only that, the High court has stayed all fee increases until such comittee is set up.
how can a prestigious judiciary like high court of India is ignoring the appeal of a mass guardian, this is not the question of one time fee hike, this is beginning of monopoly of school management with highly concern with some politician, because they are also involve in same profession. my humble request is from all parents have you go the detail of school of school where your ward spending 7-8 hrs, ig there proper medical tools, is there proper fire/disaster safety, is the all teacher are eligible for what you are paying!
The above statistics is absolutely wrong and absured. It is as true as Arvinder Singh Lovely is getting ready for media debate on fee hike issue.
Private schools charge 40% increase in 11 years in the name of pay commission. It means if there are no govt jobs tomorrow, these private schools will not give increments and arrears to their teachers and staff. The private schools present a false picture that they have 1:25 teacher student ratio in school which is untrue and actual ratio is 1:45 and in some classes 50. Children have often complaints about excess students in class.
Now with regard to fee, suppose in 1999 private schools increased fee upto 40% and then in 2009 again 70% and in between eight years increased fee upto 10%, the average school fee parents is giving to private schools is upto 18% annually against his increment of 3-4%.
Are our politicians linked with Education mafia? It seems so because it is only then one can remain silent despite knowing everything.
Our politicians all of them know that private schools do not issue receipts even for diaries, fee booklets, report cards etc. A fee booklet costing Rs. 8/- is sold (that is the right word) at Rs.30/- per booklet, diary costing Rs.25/- sold at Rs.140/- and report card costing Rs.20/- is sold at Rs.50/- Now if there are 2,500 students in the class, does that mean the excess money charged from students should not be considered as pure profit and questioned as to where that money is put. Whether, profit gained from selling diaries, fee booklet and report cards is put in the same account or is transferred to other account.
Every third minister in the city is either linked to private school or has some stake in schools and that is why they prefere and allow and support this loot by private schools.
I request, all parents should form parent association in their schools and stop dadagiri of school management. Do not fear.
Rajinder Katoch
09868049198
WHAT’S THE REAL COLORFUL MOTTO BEHIND BLACK & WHITE NO-PROFIT SERVICE ON PAPER
Every inspection of books of accounts of these education trusts, societies & school run by them have come out with large financial irregularities including personal use of school fee fund by trust members.
National Knowledge Commission has recently recommened national level private schools regulation body in Dec 2008 to Prime Minister office however no action has yet started on that.
CAN PUBLIC DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AT ALL?
Yes, standup and expose their black deeds in front of entire nation.
State Government have multiple provisions to compel schools to keep resonable fee however it seems
they have no interest in suffering of middle class who has been denied access to fundamental right
of education in this country.
—— Private Schools need following 3 things to run a school ———-
1. Education Trust registered under under Indian Trust Act or Society Registered Societies Registration Act
2. Recognition from State Education Dept/ Directorate (No objection Certificate) and affedavits under state education act.
3. Affiliation from some Education Board like CBSE, ICSE 0r U.P.Board.
All above 3 are legal bodies and provide their approval based on their Bye-Laws so schools can not function in case they violate any of these bye-laws legally.
PTA Body have been provided many rights in CBSE Bye-Laws and 2 members representation in School Management Committe for smooth functioning of private schools. One can get any information which they want by filing applications under Right to Information Act.
Delhi NCR parents are running a protest drive against this exploitation and a PIL has been filed against various education no-trust bodies.
Trust/Societies Mgmt executives are misusing public money (At country level this scam would easily be worth thousands of crores every year) collected in name of school fee.
This fight to get our own due rights will take long time as it happens with all other cases in India, but we are sure at last, we will win.
Stand up & unite and raise your voice against this exploitation in the name of education
Mr Rajinder Katoch, you have said “do not fear”. But how far should the fight go ?
The latest High Court order has proven that if a parent protests against fee hike and files complaints, the student can be expelled by the school, and that’s it..
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/student-expulsion-high-court-disposes-of-re/674805/
In this case the parent who went to court, and was also part of the Bansal Committe where she voted against the fee hike (not ordinary parent but representative). This is like a double mistake.
The third mistake is, Dr Avisha Kulkarni, the mother, even “requested Justice Dharmadhikari to recuse himself since his father, a former judge, is associated with the forum for private unaided schools” (from the same report). The son judge has refused, as expected.
Two months ago Dr Kulkarni even said “I am not a terrorist” http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/mumbai/I-am-not-a-terrorist/Article1-568521.aspx
She can only go to the Supreme Court now. Even there, if we believe Shanti Bhushan ( http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?267128 ) , it may be a tough fight.
“Do not fear” ? Take it with a pinch of salt.
Dear Mr. Ram,
This girl was taken back by the school when parents took the case to court. Life is not bed of roses. Mumbai based Forum for Fairness in Education, President is my close friend. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has given a judgment on 11th Feb 2010 that the late fee shall be 5 paise per day. Now, if parents are cowards, it is not my fault. I am paying not only 5 paise late fee but monthly fee also. My reason is I do not get quarterly salary. There are laws and judgements. If all of us want the situation around us should improve, we have to check our power, our shockers, our ammunition. Otherwise, this country is full of shabdveers (drawing room talkers). One has to stand and do endeavour. I stood alone against the justice and everybody left but I remained firm on the ground. Slowly slowly those who left me now has rejoined me. In our school, there is no demand for fee because a complaint agianst them is lying in the nearby police station with judgement copy attached. A judgement cannot change any thing. Regards, Rajinder Katoch
The false cry for “rights and freedoms of schools” makes one thing clear. What private schools want is a free hand in hiking fees every year.
That is the reason for existence of the Forum of Private Unaided Schools. What is this Forum ? It is basically a cartel for price fixing. Retd judge C S Dharmadhikari (father) playing a big role in this Forum was not known to many people before this case. Now the cat is out of the bag. Isn’t it very perfect that the court cases are judged by the judge S C Dharmadhikari (son). Wah bhai wah !
Dear Zaib,
Let us say you are correct about the motivations of private schools. But nobody has to send their kids to private schools, right? The great government schools of our country should suffice? Yet these “greedy” private schools thrive in the poorest villages.
You assume parents are not smart enough to make decisions about cost and quality for their children. I humbly disagree.
Regards, Harsh
Private Unaided Schools have been smart enough to work around restrictions. MiD-Day reports that 70% of Mumbai schools don’t have PTA. This is against the rules. http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/jan/300111-70-percent-schools-no-pta-mumbai.htm
Secondly PTAs are supposed to be elected. Many schools nominate certain parents to ensure a “yes” response to a fee hike.
Before giving more powers or autonomy to private unaided schools there should be strict checking on these schools and punitive action for violations. As Indians we are eager to skip our duties but first to demand our rights. Schools should not do the same.
Dear Harsh, I wouldn’t take so much pity on private schools. Whenever they find that profits are not lucrative, they naturally move to greener pastures. I don’t think protectionist measures are necessary.
It is fee hike season again in Mumbai, Delhi, even in smaller metros and for Indian schools in Middle East, Singapore etc. I think clearly a case of private school owners wanting to squeeze out more profits.
@Zaib: I definitely see conflict of interest in son/father judge pair (S.C and C.S. Dharmadhikari) in these cases related to private unaided schools. In 2010 Justice J N Patel and Justice S C Dharmadhikari heard these cases about private school fee hikes:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/will-you-take-10-yrs-to-decide-on-fee-hike-hc-asks-state/634344/0
At least S C Dharmadhikari should not have heard this case at all because of his fathers connection. What about thousands of parents affected by such judgements ?
Thanks to brave parents, PTAs and jurists with social conscience (including Adv Ashok Aggarwal http://advashokagarwal.blogspot.com/ ) Delhi HC has ordered rollback of fees hiked by a well known Delhi school. The message is for parents to act boldly and for school managements to have fear of the law.
At http://www.sify.com/news/court-orders-rollback-of-school-fee-hike-news-national-lhtxkieecfd.html
In Vibgyor expulsion case Supreme Court ruled against the school
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-09/mumbai/30377084_1_mumbai-school-adhishree-gopalkrishnan-expulsion-order
It is nice that justice still works at the Supreme Court level although denied at High Court level. This is India but better late than never. How many parents will fight like this ? Congrats to Avisha Kulkarni Gopalakrishnan.