MSPA Blog

Hyderabad District Collector Sri Navin Mittal has initiated action, as assured by him, after the last meet with HSPA/MSPA on 11th Jan 2010. Saakshi & Eenadu Newspapers have published an article today which states that Notice has been Issued to Schools. The Key points of this article are:

1. DFRC issues notice to schools regarding fee hike
2. On parents complaints, notice has been issued to Glendale, Niraj, Meridian, Princess Esin, Mukharam Jahi and other schools
3. These schools need to respond within one week with explanation and audit reports
4. School Education Department has issued notice to about 1500 schools to respond within one months time and submit details with complete audit report
5. Schools should abide by GO MS-91 and collect fee as per 2008-09
6. Criminal case will be filed on the school who have ignored the GO and hiked fee by 40%

The press articles are here for reference

Article Published in the Hindu 12/01/10

HYDERABAD: In violation of the government order against fee hike last year, quite a few private schools are up to their old tricks, throwing students and parents into fear and uncertainty.

It was a shocker for parents of over 70 students of Niraj Public School to receive a notice from the school’s management, bluntly asking them to withdraw their wards from the school.

A clear indication of the intention to remove the ‘thorns in the flesh’ before going ahead with another bout of fee hike, the communiqué was met with loud protests from the Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA) whose representatives met the district Collector on Monday and sought action from him.

Vengeful notice

The notice, dated January 7, puts it straight that the child will not be admitted for the coming academic year because the parent had been a litigant.

Quoting all the instances where the parents were at loggerheads with the management, the communication, vengeful in word and spirit, asked the parents to pay the tuition fee overdue, or else face removal of the student’s name from the rolls.

“You are not only defaming the school, but also harassing the management of the school by bringing outsiders and creating unhealthy atmosphere in the school,” the notice read, “We are issuing the letter so that you will have ample time to make alternate arrangements for your child’s education elsewhere or as you please.” It asked the parents to collect the Transfer Certificate “after settling all the dues payable.”

Facility stopped

“The school stopped school bus entry to our children from today onwards. They are also harassing children to exert pressure on the parents who refuse to pay the increased fee,” complained parent K.V. Janardhana Rao.

There was a 40 per cent fee hike by the management before government’s intervention, informed members of the Niraj Public School Parents Association. None of the private schools have initiated Parent-Teachers Associations as per the GO, or submitted their proposals to DFRC, they alleged.

Complaint was also made against Princess Esin Girls’ High School run under the Nizamia Hyderabad Women’s Association Trust, which recently notified through a newspaper that the trustees decided to close down the school as parents refused to pay the fee in full. It sent shock waves across the parents of 2,000 children studying there.

Collector Navin Mittal promised action and directed the District Education Officer to initiate criminal proceedings against the erring schools.

Showing complete disregard to the GO MS-91 most of the schools including Meridian have already announced hike of fee for the next academic year 2010-11. Citing this, HSPA members today visited the Hyderabad District Collector Mr Navin Mittal to express HSPA member school associations’ unhappiness about inaction from the governments side. Incidentally the District Education Officer Ms Victoria Devkumari was also present.

HSPA Core and several Member School Associations submitted representations seeking immediate action on schools not abiding by the GO MS-91. Mr Navin Mittal categorically mentioned that all schools in AP, irrespective of curriculum/ board followed (SSC, CBSE, ICSE, IB or others), have to abide by the GO and collect fee as per 2008-09 fee structure only till the time they report the justification of fee hike to the DFRC (District Fee Regulatory Committee) and seek approval on their revised fee structure by sharing the income/expense details. He has assured parents that criminal actions will be initiated against these schools’ management who continue to misguide/ harass the parents and also assured that these schools will need to refund the excess amount collected from the 2008-09 fee levels until approval on fee hike is secured from DFRC.

“There is no question of fee hike for the next academic year as of now” assured Mr.Navin Mittal. He has sought 2 weeks time from HSPA for a review of the situation and during this time Ms Victoria Devkumari will personally engage with such schools strictly on behalf of Navin Mittal and issue written notices warning perennial consequences, if need be.

HSPA members would meet the DEO once again shortly to get an update on the action taken by her and with Navin Mittal on Jan 25th on the steps taken by all the concerned authorities.

Shortly, MSPA Core Members are trying to meet with Meridian Management to arrive at mutually acceptable figures for third term fee payment as per 2008-09 fee structure. Meridian Parents are requested to continue to hold their third term fee payment as of now, until further communication from MSPA.

All parents continue to receive circular from Meridian to pay up the third term fee as per academic year 2008-09. This displays total disregard by Meridian School toward the Honorable High Court and Government. Parents may note that the last interim direction by the High Court “Heard. Mr. Prakash Reddy, and Mr. K.S. Murthy. R5 (Meridian) is directed to receive the 2^ndterm fee as collected for the accodemic year. 2008-09 until further orders.” The case continues to be pending in the court and Meridian is yet to respond to the last petition filed by us and so Meridian is in no position to demand the third term fee from parents. Mess and transport are optional and parents who utilize these services will need to pay only the Mess and Transport charges.

Meridian managements seems to have conveniently forgotten its circular issued during the second term fee where it stated that final fee will be adjusted in the third term. The circular is displayed below for reference. MSPA expects all parents to HOLD THIRD TERM fee until further developments, keep tracking this site for updates.

Meridan Circular

Parents have received the intimation for the Third Term Fee payment by Meridian Management; MSPA would like to remind parents that the court has advised Meridian to collect only the Second Term Fee as per academic year 2008-09. Matter continues to be pending in the court and until further direction is given by the High Court the school cannot demand the Third Term Fee. Also parents should note that Third Term is the last term and the final adjustment of the Fee will happen only in this term, this was also given by Meridian Management. Parents are advised to hold the fee and check for further updates from MSPA on this site.

Parents may however pay the Mess & Transport fee because the Court has stated that these facilities are optional and so parents need to take a call.

MSPA has already sent a written communcation to the school about why they should not demand the thrid term fee from parents. To read this letter click here

With the GHMC elections coming close we all would be having Candidates visiting us asking for our votes. All Parents should take this opportunity to demand an answer from these aspiring cadidates about what they would be doing about the implementation of GO MS-91 and how soon would they bring us the desired relief from Unjustified Fee Hike in schools across Hyderabad. Let us make these Candidates accountable. Demand for your rights.

MSPA

Article published in Andhra Jyoti on 9/11/09

In the concluding section of this coverage AJ states that out of 2800 school across Hyderabad 700 are fleecing parents by charging exorbitant fee. Click on image below to read the complete article

Andhra Jyoti 9/11

Hyderabad Schools Parents Association (HSPA) having 31 parent associations registered and actively working with them organized a press meet and has expressed its dissatisfaction about the non implementation of GO MS-91 in schools and inadequate action on the part of DFRC or Department of Education. This meet was well covered in local TV channels yesterday and publication have also given good coverage today. HSPA intends to intensify its activity further if concerned authorities do not take adequate action to bring the desired relief. To read the coverage in The Hindu, DC & TOI click on images below.

The Hindu

DC

TOI

The Honorable High Court has clarified that since Transport is optional and now also the Mess has been made optional, parents have the choice so it does not want to give any specific direction for these services provided by the school and hence parents should pay as per 2009-10 hiked fee. To sort the issue it has also advised that parents have a dialogue with the school and arrive at a solution.

The Court has also clarified that since the direction was given to Meridian Educational Society the same does not apply to Meridian Infrastructure services and hence the pre-primary fee also has to be paid as per hiked fee of 2009-10.

MSPA