Parents Protest Fee Hike; Demand Zero-Hike Go
Families urge government to curb fee hikes and clear pending reimbursements.
Hyderabad: Parents from several private schools in the city gathered outside the commissioner and director of the school education department on Tuesday and demanded a law to control private school fees, issuing a zero-hike GO, withdrawal of GO No. 7 and clearance of pending fee reimbursement dues.
The dharna brought parents from Ramanthapur, Begumpet and Siddharth School, among others, together, and they said rising fees in private schools had become difficult for many families. They demanded that the government should bring a fee regulation act before June 15 to make education affordable in Hyderabad. Parents also said that if the law takes more time, a zero-hike GO should be issued so schools do not raise fees further this academic year.
The protestors also opposed GO No. 7, saying that the order would affect students from economically weaker SC, ST and BC communities, especially girls, by limiting access to quality education. They asked the government to withdraw it and release long-pending fee reimbursement dues, which they said were linked to the future of lakhs of students.
The parents also sought regular audits of private schools, transparency in fee collections and stronger protection for Gurukul residential schools.
