Group of parents protested outside the Guru Harkrishan Public High School in Bezonbagh on Tuesday after the management refused to roll back fee hike effected this year.
Earlier, on April 30, when parents went to collect the report cards of their children, they were informed of steep fee hike to come into effect from academic session 2011-12.
After parents expressed their displeasure, the management promised to review the decision. On Tuesday the parents were informed that fees would not be rolled back. A group of about 100 people, parents and local leaders gathered at the school premises to protest this decision.
Dr Sona Chandwani, one of the protesters, said, "Every year they are raising the fees. The amalgamation fund has gone up from Rs 1,500 to Rs.2,500. The monthly fees have also shot up 50% from Rs 600 per month to Rs 975." With protesters refusing to yield, the police were finally called in to control the crowd.
Micky Bakshi, a local leader whom some of parents called for negotiations with the management, said "Most parents here are from low to middle income group and for them it is not possible to pay so much. We have another meeting with management on May 12 and if their stand remains same, we will take our complaint to higher level."
Sikh Education Society (SES) that manages the school said they could not afford the higher costs of running the school with present fee structure. Parshan Singh Kalsi, general secretary of SES, said "Our new fee structure at the maximum level is Rs 19,000 per year for the high school students. It is less for the middle and primary. You compare this with the fees being charged at other prominent CBSE schools. They charge anywhere from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 annually. Our school is doing academically well too with last year a girl scoring 97.4 per cent in board exams."
Kalsi said good teachers demand better pay and it was not possible to attract good employees with old fee structure. "We have around 2300 students and 200 of them have already paid the increased fees. A majority of parents understand that even our new fee structure is very reasonable considering our performance," he said.
Earlier, on April 30, when parents went to collect the report cards of their children, they were informed of steep fee hike to come into effect from academic session 2011-12.
After parents expressed their displeasure, the management promised to review the decision. On Tuesday the parents were informed that fees would not be rolled back. A group of about 100 people, parents and local leaders gathered at the school premises to protest this decision.
Dr Sona Chandwani, one of the protesters, said, "Every year they are raising the fees. The amalgamation fund has gone up from Rs 1,500 to Rs.2,500. The monthly fees have also shot up 50% from Rs 600 per month to Rs 975." With protesters refusing to yield, the police were finally called in to control the crowd.
Micky Bakshi, a local leader whom some of parents called for negotiations with the management, said "Most parents here are from low to middle income group and for them it is not possible to pay so much. We have another meeting with management on May 12 and if their stand remains same, we will take our complaint to higher level."
Sikh Education Society (SES) that manages the school said they could not afford the higher costs of running the school with present fee structure. Parshan Singh Kalsi, general secretary of SES, said "Our new fee structure at the maximum level is Rs 19,000 per year for the high school students. It is less for the middle and primary. You compare this with the fees being charged at other prominent CBSE schools. They charge anywhere from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 annually. Our school is doing academically well too with last year a girl scoring 97.4 per cent in board exams."
Kalsi said good teachers demand better pay and it was not possible to attract good employees with old fee structure. "We have around 2300 students and 200 of them have already paid the increased fees. A majority of parents understand that even our new fee structure is very reasonable considering our performance," he said.
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