Punjab AAP leaders protest fee hike by private schools

The Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday called for an immediate rollback of the fee hike by private schools in the state.

A delegation of AAP legislators, led by Leader of Opposition in the Punjab assembly H.S. Phoolka, met Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore and raised the issue of private schools charging heavy fees from students, contrary to the directions of the court and the state government.

Addressing the media after meeting the Governor, Phoolka said private schools in the state were charging heavy amounts from students not only in the name of annual admission fee, but also as re-admission fee, and for books and school uniforms.

"The schools are violating the guidelines of government and the hon'ble court. The action of private schools is a clear violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which has not being implemented by a state government," Phoolka said.

The AAP delegation also raised other problems faced by the people in state.

These included relief to farmers from farm loans, scams by chit-fund companies and deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.

Raising the issue of agrarian crisis in Punjab, Phoolka said the economic condition of farmers across state is deteriorating and farmers are committing suicide.

"The Congress party, in its election manifesto, promised to provide relief to farmers by waiving off the farmers' loan, but no relief in any form has been provided to farmers till date," he said.

Referring to law and order situation in Punjab, Phoolka said that things were going from bad to worse.