MUMBAI: The Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday decided to issue directives to private schools in the state to reduce fees by 15% in this academic year to ease the financial impact of the Covid pandemic on households. A government notification is expected soon.
School education minister Varsha Gaikwad said guidelines will be issued to schools where parents have already paid fees for the year. For those yet to pay, schools will have to collect 15% less, she said.
The move comes a week after the Supreme Court on July 22 directed the state to consider its May judgment to Rajasthan schools to reduce fees by 15%.
‘Not clear if term fee or tuition fee will be reduced’
The directive came in response to a special leave petition by parents against a March 1, Bombay high court order staying a GR dated May 8, 2020 seeking reduction in fees. The GR was challenged by the Unaided Schools Forum.
However, S C Kedia, secretary of the Forum, said the latest decision too will be legally challenged by the Forum. He said as per the Fee Regulatory Act, the state does not have powers to regulate fees. There are over 1,100 private schools in Maharashtra.
On Tuesday, parents’ associations had met the state-constituted Fee Regulations Act Amendment Recommendations Committee to discuss various issues. Parents had complained of children being denied online lessons, transfer certificates and mark sheets over nonpayment of fees. Parents complained that despite physical schools being shut, they were forced to pay exorbitant fees.
Gaikwad said on Wednesday that stern action will be taken against schools not following the order to cut fees. However, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education, Jayant Jain, said there is no clarity on whether tuition fee will be reduced or term fees. “Private schools are conducting online classes with minimum teachers. Many teachers’ contracts have not been renewed,” said Jain, justifying the need for schools to pass on the cost reductions.
The trustee of a group of schools said the condition of aided schools is “pathetic” as funds do not come on time from the state. Private schools are able to impart quality education only because fees are used to employ quality teachers, said the trustee.
Ketan Joshi, secretary of Brahman Shikshan Mandal, Thane, said the institution reduced fees by 30% in 2020-21. “Even after reducing fees, over 50%, parents did not pay. We need a certain amount to run the institutes,” said Joshi. He added that this year they have already reduced fees by15%.
“The cabinet decision on fee reduction is an eyewash. Last year, the GR on fee reduction was challenged in the high court,” said advocate Anubha Sahai, president of the India Wide Parents Association. She said the mechanism to approach district fee regulatory committees (DRFCs) was flawed. “Parents have to get a Rs 100 stamp paper, form a group and then approach the DFRCs,” said Sahai.
