‘Lodge complaints against schools collecting excess fees'

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/26/stories/2010042656210300.htm

Belgaum: Deputy Commissioner J. Ravishankar has appealed to parents to lodge complaints against the management/administration of recognised private schools which are collecting tuition fees in excess of the limit prescribed by the State Government.
They can lodge complaints with the District Education Regulating Authority, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, according to official sources here on Sunday.
The sources said that the Deputy Commissioner had recently held a meeting with the headmasters/headmistresses of schools as a step to prevent the collection of excess fees.
On receipt of complaint, the authority members will inquire and take appropriate action.
Usha Ganjigatti, Education Officer in the office of the Deputy Director of Public Instruction, has been appointed as the nodal officer to check irregularities in fee collection.
In case of admission being denied by any school, the parent can submit a written complaint to the authority along with documents.
However, many parents said that the admission process in most schools had been completed. Schools, particularly English-medium schools, were collecting huge sums of money, if not as capitation fee but as donation or development funds by way of “third-party” cheque/demand draft. The managements of schools were looting parents and the Government remained a mute spectator, alleged a parent on condition of anonymity.
He said the condition that there should be a written complaint against collection of capitation (in any form) or fee did not go down well with parents or students as many of them would not lodge a complaint for fear of being denied admission or harassment after being given admission. He said that the officer should also act on anonymous complaints.
The Deputy Commissioner also asked managements of schools to implement the Right to Education Act.