Schools charge capitation fee in various guises: NGOs

Recently,parents of three schools complained against the management for charging exorbitant amount towards voluntary contribution for PTA welfare,staff welfare,infrastructure maintenance,activity fees,annual day function,etc.

“We have received a few complaints which we are investigating,” said said N B Chavan,Deputy Director of School Education,Mumbai. “We have seen that there is a growing tendency among some institutions to gain profit through education. Stringent action will be initiated against schools if it is proved that they are charging capitation fees,” he added.

There have been complaints against schools for charging huge amounts as donations. However,most parents prefer not to lodge complaints fearing a backlash. Some schools,particularly in the western suburbs,charge admission fees ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh,a security deposit of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh and under the head ‘other fees’ or ‘miscellaneous fees’,an additional Rs 30,000 to Rs 80,000. Ironically,there is no explanation for ‘other fees’ and ‘miscellaneous fees’.

“According to the 1987 Act,capitation fees are any amount charged over the prescribed fee amount or charged towards heads not prescribed. Schools are charging Rs 1,800-2,500 as computer fees,Rs 100-500 as ‘fines’,etc. But all of these are capitation fees,and therefore are,illegal,” Chavan added.

According to Jayant Jain,president of Forum for Fairness in Education,an educational NGO,the ambiguity is further fuelled with reluctance of police to probe such matters. “Even if parents manage to register a case,no investigation is conducted,” added Jain.

Nana Kute-Patil of Buland Chhawa,another educational NGO,has filed many complaints against malpractices in schools. “These schools not only charge additional fees,but they also make it mandatory for parents to buy books,uniforms,etc. from the school itself for double the amount. There is a school in Mazgaon,which used to charge lifetime membership fees for PTA,” he said.

A principal of an aided school in south Mumbai said,“Development and infrastructure fees cannot be termed as capitation fees. Schools provide many facilities to students. These do not come for free. Those complaining must keep that in mind. If they cannot afford the fees,they are free to send their kids to municipal schools. We,too,have our own sets of problems.”

Past cases

March 2013

n NGO files a complaint against St Isabel school at Mazgaon for charging Rs 10,000 from parents as voluntary contribution towards PTA welfare. Education department has initiated a probe.

n PTA members of Canossa Girls High School file a complaint with the education department against the school for demanding Rs 2,500 per student towards ‘infrastructure fee’ for work such as painting the classrooms,providing furniture,etc. Parents alleged that the school was involved in profiteering and has refused to provide them the audit report.

n Parents of students at St Joseph’s Girls School in Agripada filed a police complaint against the management for collecting capitation fees. Parents alleged that after they refused to pay the additional fees,their wards were punished.

October 2012

n FIR was filed by the father of a class 3 student against Karnataka Sangh’s Adarsh English School in Prabhadevi for collecting capitation fees and forging documents.