Hyderabad: The rate of inflation is no longer a criterion for increasing school fees, with schools raising fees above the inflation rate every year.
The rules allow educational institutions to increase the fees every year based on the rate of inflation. While the average inflation rate has been about six-seven per cent for the last few years, schools are increasing fees by more than 20 per cent.
The inflation rate released by the Centre takes into account all the factors that contribute to rising places.
The fees for professional courses like engineering, medicine, management etc. are being increased strictly based on the inflation rate. However, there is no such control over fees collected by schools.
Schools in the city are divided into four categories based on the fees they collect. The top schools charge Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per annum, second grade schools charge Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000, third grade schools collect Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 and last grade schools collect Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000.
But irrespective of their grading, schools are revising the fee structure by a minimum of 10-15 per cent year-on-year, while in the case of elite schools it is in the range of 20 per cent to 50 per cent.
The amount of the fee hike has been significantly higher in the last three years over previous years and the reason cited by the schools for this hike was increased property tax, power bills, salaries, and other operational costs.
Next: PIL against fee hike in schools
PIL against fee hike in schools
Hyderabad: The AP High Court has admitted a PIL against collecting of exorbitant fees by private schools and colleges in the state.
Forum for better Vikrama Simhapuri, represented by its secretary Dr Kesari Haranath moved the court alleging that certain private educational institutions were exploiting parents by hiking fees and were also luring them with attractive names and collecting exorbitant fees.
He said that the authorities had failed to implement GOs issued by the government for regulating fees in schools and junior colleges.
