Under the new RTE rules, the state government will fine schools caught taking donations, 10 times the amount taken. DNA asks parents for their point of view.
Expert view
Money needed to provide good services
Schools shouldn’t ask for donations from parents as it is unethical. It is wrong to ask for such high amounts of money as I’m sure not all can afford it. Having said that, I do agree with the fact that education isn’t cheap anymore. Schools need money to improve the condition and facilities available for students.If private institutions have come up with good infrastructure and quality educational services then it should be appreciated. But, it is necessary to have a policy that can strictly stop wrong practices undertaken by some institutions. Parents shouldn’t support such institutions by fulfilling their unjustified demands for the money. Parents do give in to such demands as they don’t want to take a risk when it comes to their child’s future and thus accept such things as general norms of schools. Moreover, since independence, educational institutions have not grown in proportion to the population. Government has also proved helpless in providing the right kind of educational services. Earlier, missionary and charitable schools used to run with the aid and donations taken from the affluent section of society, which isn’t viable now. So, while it is good that private schools are mushrooming, they must function with complete transparency.
—Amith Bajla, chairman, Taurian World School
Why pay donation at all?
Donation means voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause. But, why should a parent donate money to a school to get their child admitted to a good school? Isn’t education every child’s right? We already pay a hefty amount as school fee, so why pay more in the name of donation. Also, if a child changes school after a year or so because of any reason does it mean that parents will have to shell out money again? How much money are parents supposed to spend on a child’s education? The government needs to take a look at it and make sure parents are not fooled as most of the time donations are counted under unaccountable funds by schools.
—Coretta D’Souza, homemaker
Expert view
Money needed to provide good services
Schools shouldn’t ask for donations from parents as it is unethical. It is wrong to ask for such high amounts of money as I’m sure not all can afford it. Having said that, I do agree with the fact that education isn’t cheap anymore. Schools need money to improve the condition and facilities available for students.If private institutions have come up with good infrastructure and quality educational services then it should be appreciated. But, it is necessary to have a policy that can strictly stop wrong practices undertaken by some institutions. Parents shouldn’t support such institutions by fulfilling their unjustified demands for the money. Parents do give in to such demands as they don’t want to take a risk when it comes to their child’s future and thus accept such things as general norms of schools. Moreover, since independence, educational institutions have not grown in proportion to the population. Government has also proved helpless in providing the right kind of educational services. Earlier, missionary and charitable schools used to run with the aid and donations taken from the affluent section of society, which isn’t viable now. So, while it is good that private schools are mushrooming, they must function with complete transparency.
—Amith Bajla, chairman, Taurian World School
Why pay donation at all?
Donation means voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause. But, why should a parent donate money to a school to get their child admitted to a good school? Isn’t education every child’s right? We already pay a hefty amount as school fee, so why pay more in the name of donation. Also, if a child changes school after a year or so because of any reason does it mean that parents will have to shell out money again? How much money are parents supposed to spend on a child’s education? The government needs to take a look at it and make sure parents are not fooled as most of the time donations are counted under unaccountable funds by schools.
—Coretta D’Souza, homemaker
Paid donation for son’s sake
During my son’s admission two years ago, after fulfilling all the formalities, I suddenly got a notice from the school that I would have to deposit a sum of Rs5,000 in the name of some school development fee. This was asked even after paying a hefty amount of Rs30,000 as school fees, and was supposed to be made without any receipt. Even though I was outraged, I couldn’t pull my son out from the school as the admission process in all other schools had closed. I wouldn’t waste a year of my son’s life so I gave in to the school’s demands. The government must crack down on such unethical practices.
—Radhika Sapkal, media professional
Donations good if not misused
There was no demand of donation or any such formalities in my son’s school. We just had to pay the school fee. Schools that provide good
facilities to students are able to do so because they can arrange for a good amount of money for the development of the school. If schools take such huge amounts from parents in the name of donations and don’t misuse it then it is fair. Today, many schools have facilities like swimming pools, playgrounds, air conditioned buildings, school bus, etc. which are needed, but in return schools must bring in transparency in such transactions.
—Shankar Machcha, businessman
System will never change
The whole education system is rotten and no amount of amendments can change that. We talk about education to all but at the same time, schools demands high fees and donations. The government’s new clause about fining schools if they ask for donations is good but I’m not sure how well it will be implemented. Sometimes schools ask for donations in the form of favours if not cash. But, I also think that if a school has to provide good facilities to their students then it does need money. There are two sides to a coin; therefore, it would be difficult to get rid of the necessary evil in the education system.
—Kanchan Tahilani, homemaker
Focus on education not money
With lack of good schools in the city, parents are already in a fix as it has become difficult to get admission. Therefore, some schools take advantage of such situations and make exuberant demands. So, either parents have to give in or look for other options. Every parent wants their child to get the best in life, starting from a good school but it is not easy for many to pay high school fees or cough up high amounts in donations. I consider such demands by schools as nothing less than corruption. Schools are considered sacred and meant to deliver good education, not money-making schemes.
—Ruchika Shrivastva, freelancer
During my son’s admission two years ago, after fulfilling all the formalities, I suddenly got a notice from the school that I would have to deposit a sum of Rs5,000 in the name of some school development fee. This was asked even after paying a hefty amount of Rs30,000 as school fees, and was supposed to be made without any receipt. Even though I was outraged, I couldn’t pull my son out from the school as the admission process in all other schools had closed. I wouldn’t waste a year of my son’s life so I gave in to the school’s demands. The government must crack down on such unethical practices.
—Radhika Sapkal, media professional
Donations good if not misused
There was no demand of donation or any such formalities in my son’s school. We just had to pay the school fee. Schools that provide good
facilities to students are able to do so because they can arrange for a good amount of money for the development of the school. If schools take such huge amounts from parents in the name of donations and don’t misuse it then it is fair. Today, many schools have facilities like swimming pools, playgrounds, air conditioned buildings, school bus, etc. which are needed, but in return schools must bring in transparency in such transactions.
—Shankar Machcha, businessman
System will never change
The whole education system is rotten and no amount of amendments can change that. We talk about education to all but at the same time, schools demands high fees and donations. The government’s new clause about fining schools if they ask for donations is good but I’m not sure how well it will be implemented. Sometimes schools ask for donations in the form of favours if not cash. But, I also think that if a school has to provide good facilities to their students then it does need money. There are two sides to a coin; therefore, it would be difficult to get rid of the necessary evil in the education system.
—Kanchan Tahilani, homemaker
Focus on education not money
With lack of good schools in the city, parents are already in a fix as it has become difficult to get admission. Therefore, some schools take advantage of such situations and make exuberant demands. So, either parents have to give in or look for other options. Every parent wants their child to get the best in life, starting from a good school but it is not easy for many to pay high school fees or cough up high amounts in donations. I consider such demands by schools as nothing less than corruption. Schools are considered sacred and meant to deliver good education, not money-making schemes.
—Ruchika Shrivastva, freelancer
Parents to get excessive school fee back
School education minister Balasaheb Thorat announced in the assembly on Wednesday that the state will issue a government resolution (GR) to bring about uniformity in private school fee. He also claimed that the government will recover the excessive money collected by the school managements in the form of hiked fee and return it to parents.
Replying to a question raised in the assembly, Thorat said that his government will take adequate steps to curb the practice of donation by school managements.
“Following the report of the Kumud Bansal committee appointed to look into school fee hike, the GR will be issued on Thursday to regulate the same. The GR will help us in bringing uniformity in fee hike. There are complaints of the exorbitant hike by some schools in the state. We will recover the excessive money collected by the managements and return it to the parents.”
Thorat also said that after receiving complaints from the parents, his department issued notices to the managements concerned.
“Parents-teachers’ associations will be formed at the district level to keep a check on the practice of donation by school managements.” The minister informed that once his department gets clarification on Right to Education (RTE) from the Centre, they will think of reserving a certain percentage of seats for the economically backward in the unaided private schools.
A GR issued on March 4 had stated that schools should follow the fee structure of the 2008-09 academic year and action would be taken if the order was not followed.Education secretary Sanjay Kumar had then said, “We have issued a clarification to the earlier GR as parents were uncertain. The GR prohibits private unaided schools to hike fees.” Parents had claimed that the previous GR, issued on February 23, was ambiguous.
Replying to a question raised in the assembly, Thorat said that his government will take adequate steps to curb the practice of donation by school managements.
“Following the report of the Kumud Bansal committee appointed to look into school fee hike, the GR will be issued on Thursday to regulate the same. The GR will help us in bringing uniformity in fee hike. There are complaints of the exorbitant hike by some schools in the state. We will recover the excessive money collected by the managements and return it to the parents.”
Thorat also said that after receiving complaints from the parents, his department issued notices to the managements concerned.
“Parents-teachers’ associations will be formed at the district level to keep a check on the practice of donation by school managements.” The minister informed that once his department gets clarification on Right to Education (RTE) from the Centre, they will think of reserving a certain percentage of seats for the economically backward in the unaided private schools.
A GR issued on March 4 had stated that schools should follow the fee structure of the 2008-09 academic year and action would be taken if the order was not followed.Education secretary Sanjay Kumar had then said, “We have issued a clarification to the earlier GR as parents were uncertain. The GR prohibits private unaided schools to hike fees.” Parents had claimed that the previous GR, issued on February 23, was ambiguous.
Parents stage protest after 50% fee hike in school
Around 500 parents of the Airport High School in Andheri (East) staged a protest at the school premises for nearly three days. The parents were protesting a 50% hike of annual fees, from Rs400 to Rs600.
Naresh Makwana, vice-president of the Parent Teacher Association, said, “The school receives grants from the airport authority, and is supposed to run on concession rates. However, the school has recently collected a large amount as donation from every parent, apart from the fees. Last year, they hiked the fees by 35%, saying the teachers needed to be paid according to the Fifth Pay Commission. What is the need to hike fees this year?”
Parents are also agitated by the lack of infrastructure at the school, despite increasing the fee amount. They alleged that the school does not have a well-equipped computer laboratory or decent benches for the children.
“There has been no improvement in the facilities offered by the school,” said Paramesh Iyaram, whose child is in Std III.
The parent body approached local MLA Krishna Hegde, and has requested education minister Balasaheb Thorat to intervene in the matter.
“The school did not even wait for the approval of the PTA before the hike. Most of the parents who send their children here are from a lower economic background. They cannot afford such high fees,” said Hegde.
The school spokesperson said the hike was necessary to pay the revised Sixth Pay Commission salaries to the teachers.
“The SSC board pattern has changed this year, and we need more teachers. Besides, the school is shouldering losses. If the parents have a problem, they can discuss these issues with the trustees,” she added.
Naresh Makwana, vice-president of the Parent Teacher Association, said, “The school receives grants from the airport authority, and is supposed to run on concession rates. However, the school has recently collected a large amount as donation from every parent, apart from the fees. Last year, they hiked the fees by 35%, saying the teachers needed to be paid according to the Fifth Pay Commission. What is the need to hike fees this year?”
Parents are also agitated by the lack of infrastructure at the school, despite increasing the fee amount. They alleged that the school does not have a well-equipped computer laboratory or decent benches for the children.
“There has been no improvement in the facilities offered by the school,” said Paramesh Iyaram, whose child is in Std III.
The parent body approached local MLA Krishna Hegde, and has requested education minister Balasaheb Thorat to intervene in the matter.
“The school did not even wait for the approval of the PTA before the hike. Most of the parents who send their children here are from a lower economic background. They cannot afford such high fees,” said Hegde.
The school spokesperson said the hike was necessary to pay the revised Sixth Pay Commission salaries to the teachers.
“The SSC board pattern has changed this year, and we need more teachers. Besides, the school is shouldering losses. If the parents have a problem, they can discuss these issues with the trustees,” she added.
Take donations, pay 10 times fine, RTE tells schools
No screening process for admission. No donation... Students and their parents can clap and cheer. The Right to Education (RTE) Act will finally be implemented in the state.
Before the schools reopen on Monday, the state government on Friday decoded some of the RTE clauses. Several schools were uncertain about the fresh admission process to accommodate all children in the age group of 6-14 years and ensure free and compulsory education for them. So, the state school education department on Friday released a government resolution (GR) enlisting the admission criteria.
The GR states that schools holding interviews for parents or children will be fined Rs25,000 for a first-time offence, and Rs50,000 if it is repeated. If any school takes donations, the state government will fine it 10 times the amount it has taken.
One of the sections in the RTE mentions that a child should be enrolled in an age-appropriate class. For example, a 10-year-old has to be enrolled in Std V. Principals feel that a child with no basic training will not be able to cope with the pressure of studying in higher classes, but the RTE states that schools should ensure that special attention is given to such children. Soon, the action plan to teach such children will be laid down by the State Council for Educational Research and Training.
A principal said, “It will be difficult for teachers to train such students. Imagine a child of 10, who does not even know the alphabet, studying in Std V. With this clause, the RTE contradicts the very idea of imparting quality education.”
The GR also mentions that children can continue to avail the free and compulsory education even after the age of 14, till they complete primary education. It adds that schools will have to enroll all children with a valid age proof. However, it also says that no school can refuse admission to a child even if he/she does not have an age proof.
A government official said the GR released on Friday was just an action plan for the admission process to begin. “Schools should start enrolling students with immediate effect. The guidelines have been laid. If schools refuse admissions, or oppose any of the criteria mentioned in the GR, they will be fined.”
Before the schools reopen on Monday, the state government on Friday decoded some of the RTE clauses. Several schools were uncertain about the fresh admission process to accommodate all children in the age group of 6-14 years and ensure free and compulsory education for them. So, the state school education department on Friday released a government resolution (GR) enlisting the admission criteria.
The GR states that schools holding interviews for parents or children will be fined Rs25,000 for a first-time offence, and Rs50,000 if it is repeated. If any school takes donations, the state government will fine it 10 times the amount it has taken.
One of the sections in the RTE mentions that a child should be enrolled in an age-appropriate class. For example, a 10-year-old has to be enrolled in Std V. Principals feel that a child with no basic training will not be able to cope with the pressure of studying in higher classes, but the RTE states that schools should ensure that special attention is given to such children. Soon, the action plan to teach such children will be laid down by the State Council for Educational Research and Training.
A principal said, “It will be difficult for teachers to train such students. Imagine a child of 10, who does not even know the alphabet, studying in Std V. With this clause, the RTE contradicts the very idea of imparting quality education.”
The GR also mentions that children can continue to avail the free and compulsory education even after the age of 14, till they complete primary education. It adds that schools will have to enroll all children with a valid age proof. However, it also says that no school can refuse admission to a child even if he/she does not have an age proof.
A government official said the GR released on Friday was just an action plan for the admission process to begin. “Schools should start enrolling students with immediate effect. The guidelines have been laid. If schools refuse admissions, or oppose any of the criteria mentioned in the GR, they will be fined.”
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