UP in arms against the fee hike in schools affiliated to the CBSE, parents under the banner of Punjab Parents’ Association have decided to write letters to deputy commissioners of all major cities of Punjab to register their protest.

General secretary of the association, Rakesh Jain, said, “The fee hike is not justified and we have decided to fight it under one platform. Earlier, we approached Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg, following which Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Kuldeep Singh prepared a report that approved the fact that the schools are charging unjustified fees. We also recently met Punjab Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur to resolve the issue.”

According to a member of the association, a copy of the CBSE bylaws has been given to the minister. “Page number 13 clearly states that unaided schools should consult the parents or their representatives before increasing the school fees. Besides, the fees should be charged under the heads prescribed by the Punjab Department of Education. This means the schools cannot change the fee structure on their own.”

He added that CBSE bylaws were implemented in 1988, but the schools have been violating them.

Jain said the schools have increased the fees several times since 1988. “We urged the education minister to order all the CBSE-affiliated schools to return the increased fees which they have charged from students all these years.”

Any school applying for the CBSE affiliation requires a no objection certificate from the state government. “The government should cancel their NOCs as they are not adhering to the rules and regulations of the state,” Jain added.

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