Uttarakhand: Action on arbitrariness of private schools, notice issued to many schools, action taken against principal as well

Dehradun district administration is getting strict about the arbitrariness of private schools. On the complaint of irregularities in schools, notice has been issued to two schools of the city and the principal of one school has been summoned on the instructions of the DM. Also, instructions have been given to the school to issue a clear advisory regarding children’s books, dress and fees. According to the administration, parents can buy children’s books and dress from any shop.

The district administration has taken a strict stand on the complaints of arbitrary increase in fees by private schools in the district, and pressure to buy copy-books and dress from a single identified shop. The core team of the district administration is engaged in investigating all these cases in the school. On the instructions of the District Magistrate, if the school operators do not follow the rules and resolve the complaints, the recognition of such schools can be canceled.

On receiving the complaint, the Chief Development Officer called the operators of four well-known schools of the city for review. While notice was issued to two schools for not participating in the meeting. At the same time, the school principal has been summoned on April 15 for not sending a competent officer from one school.

On receiving a complaint against the principal of a city school, the Chief Education Officer has asked the school management committee to take action to appoint someone else as the principal in place of the school principal.

Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah has said that the Chief Development Officer has given strict instructions to the private school operators and directed that as per the RTE Act and provision, the school fees can be increased by a maximum of 10 percent in three years. School operators should not force parents and children to buy books and dresses from a particular shop under any circumstances.

A clear advisory should be issued to parents regarding fees, dress and books that parents can buy books and dresses for their children from any shop. Also, all such schools where such complaints are being received. The teaching standards in them should be thoroughly investigated. Talk to the parents and their complaints should be resolved. The district administration has earlier resolved different complaints received from many schools.