Keypoints:
- DoE had directed private schools to collect fees under other components, including annual and development charges.
- Principal of a school in Shalimar Bagh said their expenses have increased “exponentially” due to the pandemic.
Last year on April 18 and August 28, the Education Directorate had ordered private schools in the National Capital not to charge anything other than tuition fees in the view of financial hardships happening during this pandemic.
On Wednesday, a letter was sent to the director of education Udit Prakash to which the Action Committee of Unaided Recognised Private Schools said, “Schools are preparing a budget and their fee structure for the 2021-22 session. You are also aware of the critical financial position of schools on account of various factors. In fact, the private unaided schools in Delhi cannot survive unless the government permits the schools to hike their fee for the 2021-22 academic session and allow them to charge development fee and annual charges for the upcoming session.”
Last year on April 18 and August 28, the education directorate had ordered private schools in Delhi not to charge anything other than tuition fee in view of financial hardships caused by the ongoing pandemic. It also had mandated that this component should be collected on a monthly basis, as it is against quarterly or annual payments.
Delhi Education Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who has been tightening the noose on private schools, on Monday tweeted: “It’s ‘School Vs Teaching Shops’! I fully support schools but nt teaching shops, till they start working as schools.”
“All heads of private unaided recognised schools allotted land by land-owning agencies on the condition of seeking prior sanction from the DoE for increase in fee are directed to submit their proposals, if any, for prior sanction for the academic session 2016-17,” DoE Director Saumya Gupta said in a communication to private schools.
“In case the schools have already charged increased fee prior to issue of this order, the same shall be liable to be adjusted by the schools in terms of sanction by the DoE. In case no proposal is submitted by the school, it shall not increase the fee and any increased fee already charged shall be refunded/ adjusted by it,” the letter further added.
