Collector Deepak Saxena reviewed the report of investigation team while chairing a meeting to discuss about arbitrary fee increased by the private schools in the district, on Thursday. The Collector asked the schools to return the fees increased without logical base in an unauthorised manner, with interest to the parents. The Collector said that many schools have increased fees in an arbitrary manner without any logical basis. Neither the competent officer nor the District Education Committee was informed about the fee hike. The officers concerned informed that one of the schools has unfairly recovered fee worth of Rs 1 crore 64 lakh following arbitrary fee increase.

 

Collector Saxena clarified that secretly increasing fee comes under the category of earning profit in an unfair manner and cheating, hence, as per rules, the school should be charged with fine and get the fees refunded to parents with interest. He also asked to file an FIR against the school management. The Collector said that an opening hearing of all the branches of St Aloysius and Stemfield School will be organised from 5 pm on April 30.

 

He appealed to all the parents concerned with these schools to send their complaints to the Collector or Additional Collector, based on which the district administration can hear the same. Even the parents should remain present during the open hearing and present their side. Hearing concerned with other private schools will also be organised in future and the parents will be informed separately. kAdditional Collector Misha Singh, District Education Officer, Ghanshyam Soni, Treasurer, Vinayaka Lakra and other officers were present in the review meeting.