Many schools start returning excess fee after govt caveat
The Delhi government had warned that if the 449 private schools do not respond to the show-cause, then, as the 'last resort', it will take over these schools.
NEW DELHI: Days after a show-cause notice was issued by the Delhi government to 449 private schools in the city to return excess fees within two weeks, several schools have started the process refunding the money to students.The government had also warned that if the schools do not respond to the show-cause, then, as the 'last resort', it will take over those private schools.Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said: "I hope we do not have to take over. We intend to send out a message to the management of those schools to implement the recommendations."Echoing Kejriwal's sentiments, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the government is keeping a strong eye on whether the schools are returning the fees or not.Sources in the government explained that every day some of the schools are put-ting notices at the newspapers regarding refund of fees.
One of such notice by a prominent Delhi private school reads, "In compliance with the DoE (Directorate of Education) order, dated May 29, the school is refunding the excess tuition fee and development fee and building fund. Students who were enrolled in the school 2009-10 and 2010-11 can collect the refund."The government has welcomed the move by the schools and expects all schools to follow suit.Both the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi government have also taken initiatives to reach out to parents, whose children are enrolled in private schools.Recently, Sisodia – who also holds the Education portfolio – had conducted a Facebook Live session to sensitise parents."Our target is to provide quality education and afford-able education," he had said.The Minister added that the government does not want to interfere in the autonomy of private schools, but they should prepare a transparent admission and fees system.Sisodia also clarified, "Schools should not divert the fees collected for students to expand the business; the government is against these practices."These 449 schools are among the ones identified by a committee, headed by Justice Anil Dev Singh, as having overcharged parents on the pretext of implementing recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
