PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
As the new academic session begins, parents in Dehradun have expressed concern over alleged exploitation by private schools, citing issues such as fee hikes, mandatory purchases of books from specific vendors and other related problems. They claimed that these practices have escalated over time, with authorities failing to take adequate action.
Parents are urging officials to intervene and advocate for the establishment of an education commission where they can present their grievances. Similarly, president of the National Association for Parents’ and Students’ Rights (NAPSR) Arif Khan has shown concern and announced plans to submit a memorandum to the district magistrate on April 8 regarding these issues.
Sonia Arora stated that she has noticed an increase in exploitation by schools over time. She said that her child’s school fees have gone up every year as the new academic session starts. Additionally, the school has made it mandatory for parents to buy the school dress and books from specific shops, which seems to be driven by commissions. This practice directly affects parents’ finances. Arora emphasised that, despite calls for a fee act, there has been no noticeable implementation on the ground, leaving parents without a specific place to voice their concerns about such exploitation. She urged authorities to take action and called for the establishment of an education commission to regulate these issues.
“The financial burden on parents like us increases every year due to inappropriate school fee hikes and other forms of exploitation by the schools. A major policy should be implemented to stop such practices,” said another parent, Rinku Verma.
Many other parents have expressed similar concerns. Regarding this, Khan also echoed their frustrations, noting that last year the DM in Dehradun took action against some booksellers for malpractice, but this year there has been no similar initiative observed. He stated that schools have continued to raise fees and instituted specific shops for school uniforms, which have also increased prices, further affecting parents’ wallets. To address these issues, they plan to meet with the Dehradun DM on April 8 to submit a memorandum. He also emphasised the need for an education commission to facilitate easier communication for parents regarding these matters.
