A picture of nursery class fees of a school is viral on social media. Although the name of the school has been hidden in it, the fees mentioned in it are shocking. First look at these fees-
It is written next to the admission fee – Rs 55,638, caution money Rs 30,019, annual charge – Rs 28, 314, development fee – Rs 13, 948, tuition fee – Rs 23,737 and parent orientation charge – Rs 8,400.
Orientation is the cost in which the school talks to the child's parents about the child. Parents allege that this is an illegal fee, 20% of it i.e. around Rs 1600 is not even the one-time doctor's fee.
Expensive schools of Delhi are often accused of charging arbitrary fees for nursery admission and increasing the fees significantly every year. We talked about this to Aparajita Gautam, President of Parents Welfare Association of Delhi and many parents who send their children to expensive schools in Delhi.
What are the flaws in the process of admission in nursery and KG classes in Delhi schools, why are the fees increased as per their wish, what does the Education Department of Delhi have to say on this, we will know the answers to all these questions…
Some were charged money in the name of orientation, some had to pay several times the fees.
Many cases of arbitrary collection of fees in schools came to our notice, out of which we talked to 3 people-
Parents protesting outside Delhi's DPS school
2. Vineet Gupta, Parent: Vineet says, 'After the names of the children were removed from the school, when the parents went to the school to talk, we were stopped by a bouncer outside the school. A committee of the High Court had decided on which items the school could charge fees. Orientation fees are being charged in schools against the rules. The Directorate of Education had decided that the fees would be increased by 10% on the basis of 2015-16, in 2020 the Directorate of Education had approved increasing the fees by 10% on the fees of 2018. Whereas even before this, schools have been increasing fees by 12 to 15% every year.
Despite the order of the High Court, the schools increase the fees in the middle of the session, going against the rules of the Directorate of Education. There is no transparency in the admission process in schools, parents do not know how many marks a student got and on what basis the draw is made.
Bouncers deployed outside the closed gate of DPS, parents had to seek help from the police.
3. Aparajita Gautam, President Parent Association: Aparajita says, 'In private schools built on government lands in Delhi, fees have been increased by 300% since 2016, breaking all laws. The private school branch of the education department is silently approving these illegal activities. Rs 2,500 for food was added to the tuition fee. When we talked to the child, we came to know that he had once given biscuits to eat.
Aparajita shared with us the 18-page letter which she had sent to Patil Pranjal, the then Additional Director of Delhi Education Department, on 25 April 2024. It explains in detail how school fees have been increased arbitrarily. Aparajita has also informed us about many major irregularities in the admission process in schools.
Parents protesting outside Maharaja Agrasen School for withdrawal of fee hike
Nursery admission process in Delhi
Earlier, every school in Delhi used to declare its seats separately every year for admission in nursery and KG. After the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in Delhi, this entire admission process was put under the education department of the government. The government started the process of giving admission by holding a draw on the seats of all the schools simultaneously.
Under this, it was made mandatory for every school to declare its seats for Nursery and KG to the Education Department. In this, a rule was also brought to reserve 25% seats for economically weaker children i.e. children of EWS category.
Sometimes Google glitches and sometimes glitches in the draw, 4 major problems in the selection process.
Demand for donation of lakhs in exchange of admission
Aparajita narrates an incident from 2011, when she had gone to Maxfort School in Dwarka area of ​​Delhi for her son's admission. She says, 'After the admission was confirmed, we went to school. There were parents of 4 other children with us. Our phones were collected outside and sent to a room. Where we were asked to deposit Rs 1.5 lakh in addition to the fees by 11 am the next day for the admission of the child. We did not take admission in the school. According to Aparajita, money was demanded from the parents of one such child at Venkateshwar School in Dwarka area of ​​Delhi. In exchange for admission, bribe money was taken from the parents by deducting a donation check in the name of their Venkateswara Hospital.
Children of EWS section do not get admission, 70% seats reduced.
Generally, seats have been arranged for poor children under EWS quota in all those schools which are registered under Delhi Development Authority. Such schools had got land from DDA at throwaway prices, then there was a condition in front of these schools that they would educate poor children free of cost under the Right to Education. However, these children are discriminated against at many levels, or schools find some way or the other and refuse to give them admission.
Aparajita gives some important figures-
Injustice to eligible children by making fake certificates
Many times, due to fraud in getting the EWS certificate made, eligible children do not get the benefit in the EWS category. Giving an example, Aparajita says that Najafgarh area is near Dwarka in Delhi. To my knowledge, there are many cases in which the child's parents have a lot of land or property in Najafgarh, but their children are taking advantage by getting fake EWS certificates made, whereas such children are left who actually need the benefits. EWS certificate can be made by spending just a few thousand rupees. That is why I have been continuously saying that the certificates of children belonging to EWS category should be checked.
Contrary to Delhi government's claim, fees increased by 300%, money is taken illegally
School fees are charged in 6 stages. In the matter of increasing the fees, the High Court has clearly said that the admission fee cannot exceed Rs 200, registration fee Rs 500 and caution money cannot exceed Rs 500. This money amounts to Rs 750 in total, but schools are charging many times that amount.
Apart from these three items, tuition fees, annual fees and development fees are charged in schools. Many times that money is also taken which the school does not provide.
Aparajita tells that her daughter's tuition fee was suddenly increased from Rs 5000 to Rs 7500. When inquired, it was told that money for food had been added to it. Whereas the daughter was given only a banana once and a packet of biscuits worth Rs 3 in the school.
We tried calling the office numbers of Delhi Government Education Director Vedita Reddy regarding allegations of arbitrary fees and irregularities in the admission process. Asked for time to talk to the director from his colleague, but at present we could not talk to the director. We have sent them questions on mail, we will update as soon as the answers come.
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Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets
