JAIPUR: The state government on Monday approved a fee hike in private schools. These schools can raise fees between 17.5% and 18.5% for this academic year provided that with this increase the total hike since 2007-08 does not exceed 32.5%.
“Schools that have increased fees over the upper limit of 32.5% in the last three years will have to adjust the excess amount in the coming months,” said R P Jain, principal secretary, education department. He added that schools which have not raised fees for the last two years can raise them by 20% this academic year.
The government had constituted a committee headed by education secretary Bhaskar Sawant to examine the financial implications of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission on private schools. The committee was formed last December after the fee-hike issue took a political turn with agitated parents approaching chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who assured support. The final report was submitted to education minister Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal, who cleared it on Monday.
“The government decision to regulate school fees was taken to safeguard the interests of teachers and parents,” Meghwal said. Schools have to fulfil two conditions in order to raise fees.
First, teachers and administrative employees should be regular staff. And second, they should be paid in accordance with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
“The department has made the provision of 15% fee hike on account of Sixth Pay Commission while the rest can be attributed to inflation,” added Jain. The department will look into petitions filed by those schools which feel aggrieved by the suggestions.
The grievances will be addressed within 30 days.
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