Published On : Tue, Apr 30th, 2019

Pvt schools in Gondia turn education a ‘commercial venture,’ fleece parents

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Gondia: With the Education Department keeping a watchful eye, some reputed private schools in city have found new ways to turn education a commercial venture and fleece parents. Managements of these private schools, on one pretext or another, force 10-15 percent hike in annual admission fees, bus charges and other facilities.

Apart from all these fees and charges, parents are compelled to purchase textbooks, notebooks, stationary, uniforms, shoes, schoolbags, and other educational material from within the school premises or from selected vendors only. Despite the court orders in this regard, the private schools were found forcing the parents to purchase all these items from them and violating the government directives. According to a Government directive, notices were to be issued to the schools for stopping their grants, cancellation of recognition, return of government land, withdrawal of NOCs given through CBSE and stopping other facilities for forcing parents to purchase books, uniforms and other items from schools. However, the Education Department was found not implementing the government directives.

The court had also ruled that it is not mandatory for parents to purchase books and uniforms from schools and directed the State Government to make sure that schools do not carry out “commercial activities” in their premises.

Several school managements sell textbooks, notebooks, stationary, uniforms, shoes, schoolbags, etc from within the premise or from selected vendors only. Some institutions in the city have come up with ingenious ways of collecting huge donations for new admissions under multiple categories.

NSUI to stage agitation:

The office-bearers of NSUI Gondia District have warned of launching agitation against the private schools as complaints of recovering hiked fees and donations are being received. The schools are forcing parents to purchase textbooks, notebooks, stationary, uniforms, shoes, schoolbags, and other educational material from them. If Education Department fails to take action against the erring schools, NSUI will stage fast unto death in front of office of Sub Divisional Officer from May 21, warned the office-bearers.

The press conference was addressed by NSUI’s Gondia President Harish Tulaskar. Gaurav Vanjari, Alok Mohanti and Deva Ruse were also present.