A group of parents of students studying in private schools in Bengaluru met the Karnataka primary and secondary education minister Kimmane Ratnakar on Wednesday to complain against the exorbitant fee in private schools.
Over 35 parents of students studying in Whitefield Global School, which was in news recently as parents protested against the fee hike, met the minister and gave a formal complaint on the exorbitant fee hike by Whitfield Global School.
Parents of students from other private schools like Bishop Cottons school and Oxford Educational Institution were also present.
“The minister said that an inquiry will be conducted by the education commissioner and the schools will be dealt with severity to the extent that civil and criminal cases will be filed against them,” said Vikas Chandra, who is a part of the movement.
This move by parents comes after Supreme Court passed a judgement saying educational institutions should be run on ‘no-profit-no-loss’ basis. In their letter addressed to the minister they listed out deteriorating quality of education, ever increasing fee and commercialization in WGS school.
“Tamil Nadu had brought out a legislation in 2009 saying that schools can hike fee only once in 3 years. Why is Karnataka government giving a free hand to private schools?” asked Waseem Memon, one of the parents.
Asked whether parents have paid the fee for the next academic year, a parent (on condition of anonymity), said that many parents have not paid the fee, however, WGS has been extending deadlines and sending mails on why they have hiked the fee.