Parents associations to approach PM about school fee woes

Hyderabad: Parents from different parts of the country have joined hands to fight against indiscriminate fee collection in private and corporate schools. They have decided to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee seeking their intervention to check the excesses of private school managements.

This decision was taken during the two-day national meeting of parents associations from over 15 states, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Punjab held at Mumbai this weekend. Three members from Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA) also took part.

Representatives spoke about their experiences with respective governments and school managements. Many echoed feelings that it was high time this issue was taken up on a big scale. Paying school fees for private schools is becoming a big burden for parents across the country and hence the need to highlight the issue at a national level for finding a permanent solution.

Aravinda Jata, executive member of HSPA stated that the national parents’ body would strive for Central Fee Regulatory Act, that can be applied to the entire country.

“Representatives are ready to share laws of their respective states based upon which a model draft would be prepared. It would be reviewed by a forum of national level advocates later,” she said.

The parents’ objective is to make effective use of the Right to Education, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Right to Infor-mation Act etc. to ensure private schools fall in line.

Ms Aravinda said they would be writing to the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) at the earliest for an appointment.

A new committee was formed at the meeting and Anubha Sahai of Parents Association of Maharash-tra was chosen as its president. She said that they would try to get on board parents from all states to strengthen the body.

It may be recalled that parents in Hyderabad have been waging a relentless fight for the last eighteen months for regulation of private schools.

They held several protests and campaigns and even approached Courts ensuring Telangana government noticed their justified demands.

The education department is working on modalities for District Fee Regulatory Committees and parents want this to be expedited.End/Mahesh Avadhutha/8.15 pm.