No law to control pre-primary schools

MUMBAI, June 2: Pre-primary education was the focus of today’s agitation by the parents of students of Vissanji Academy at Andheri (East).

“The state government does not consider the pre-primary level as a part of the education system. So there is no regulation to control pre-primary schooling. Taking advantage of the situation, schools like Vissanji Academy charge exorbitant fees. Till some time ago, the school charged Rs 10,300 a year, payable at one go for three consecutive pre-primary years,” observed a member of the Vissanji Academy Parent’s Association (VAPA).

Due to the agitation, the fees have been reduced to Rs 8,300 and are payable monthly or otherwise. But the fees are still exorbitant, compared to those of primary and secondary standards, according to VAPA. The attempt now is to make the school authorities pay back three years’ money and take a month’s salary of the reduced amount at a time, maintains VAPA.

The parents under VAPA are fighting the school authorities against alleged financial irregularities since May 1. Today’s agitation urged the authority to recognise VAPA.