The joint director of education (Meerut zone) has
instructed the district inspector of schools (DIOS) of six districts to
ensure that the establishments adhere to the NOCs issued to them. The
notice has been issued to the school inspectors of Meerut, Baghpat,
Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahr.
The joint director's move was the outcome of a
meeting he had with All School Parents Association (ASPA), a parent
group from Ghaziabad. The joint director's order asked the school
inspectors to ensure that the schools running under CBSE and ICSE do not
exact fee under arbitrary heads such as annual development charges.
The order also asked the school inspectors to make
sure that schools do not force parents to buy stationery and other
items, such as uniforms and shoes, from the school premises or any
particular shop.
“We have already approached our local MLAs, who have
promised to take the issue to a high-level committee constituted by
the state government in Lucknow," said Shivani Jain, president of ASPA.
"We have also submitted our set of proposals and are awaiting their
response. The order is required to stop schools from imposing arbitrary
fee structures on parents until the committee in Lucknow comes up with a
valid conclusion. Some of the schools have already started calling up
parents and asking for fees."
When contacted, Raj Singh Yadav, district school
inspector of Ghaziabad, said he had not received the joint director's
letter yet. “Action will be initiated once we receive the letter,” added
Yadav.
