MUMBAI: Schools, parents and activists say none of the reasons given by school bus operators for a fee hike cut any ice with them.
"We pay fees for all 12 months, though our children attend school only for about nine months. I pay another Rs 470 every month for my son's school bus to drop him from King's Circle to Sion, a very small distance. Why should I pay more?" said Raghu Chari, whose son is in SIES High School, Sion.
Schools too are supporting parents on the issue. "In the past few months, bus operators went on strike whenever they wished. Many parents faced problems as they had to take leave from work and drop their children to school. Still, bus owners are demanding a fee hike. There can't be a logical justification for this," said the principal of a suburban school. She added many parents have contacted her, seeking help. "We don't know how to resolve this issue. The government needs to intervene," she added. Many principals were angry about a pending Government Resolution that the education department has still not sent to schools.
"How can the bus owners decide to hike fees? The transport committee set up in every school is supposed to decide on a structured fee hike, depending on the geographical location of the school and the student's residence," said activist Indrani Malkani. She added parents wouldn't mind paying more if it is for their children's safety. "It is unfair to target parents every time. Bus owners threaten strikes to get their way and we are forced to give in," said Rinkesh Jain, whose child is at Diamond Jubilee High School, Mazgaon.
"It is totally unjustified of bus operators to collect infrastructure cost from parents. Under an earlier Supreme Court judgment, even schools are not allowed to charge any amount towards infrastructure cost," said Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education. He added the forum will raise this issue in their petition before the Bombay High Court, which will be heard in June.
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