Parents protest against fee hike in school

Guardians of students of St Anthonys High School protested outside the school against the fee hike on Friday.

Guardians of students of St Anthonys High School protested outside the school against the fee hike on Friday. The fees for students in the primary and secondary sections have been increased from Rs 590 to Rs 990 and Rs 690 to Rs 1,140,respectively.

With the increase in the salary of government school teachers by 30 per cent,private schools are also trying to bring the parity for their teachers by increasing the fees.

Most of the students come from the lower middle class and it is difficult for them to pay such exorbitant fees, said a guardian. Earlier,the school would raise its fees by Rs 50 to Rs 60 per annum but this time the hike is steep,he said.

A meeting between the school authorities and guardians in this regard was held on Friday but concluded without a decision. The guardians have decided to again stage a demonstration outside the school on Saturday and resort to a hunger-strike if the fees are not revised.

The school authorities,however,attributed the hike to the state governments decision of implementing the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. We,however,offer concessions to students of the economically-weaker sections of the society, said a school official.

Private schools do not need an approval from the state government before raising their fees. Managing committees of schools argue it is necessary for them to increase the fees since they dont receive financial assistance from the state government.

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