June 8, 2013

Candle march against fee hike in schools

KANPUR: The agitated parents took out a candle march against fee hike in private schools from Bharat Mata Pratima in Ghantaghar here on Friday. Around 250 parents along with their wards participated in the candle march to mark their protest. The march started from Ghantaghar and ended at Gandhi Pratima, Phoolbagh after passing through areas like Nayagaj, Birhana Road etc. Parents demanded that the steep fee hike proposed by majority of city schools should be confined to the limits of common man. "Most of the schools have hiked their fee exorbitantly. Some have even doubled the fee making it difficult for middle class parents to send their children to private schools," said Amit Khanna, a parent.

Mohit Singh, another parent said the fee hike cannot be justified by any of the excuses given by the school management and 20% increase every year is a huge hike in fee. The hiked fee is a burden on board students who are already paying high tution fees for the preparations of competitive exams.

Sunil, a parent of two school going daughters said, "During the inflation and with other economic burdens, the unjust hike in fee is no less than an atrocity on the parents. It is time that the state government should come forward and lend us support against the unjust fee hike in the same way as in recent cases the government supported parents in states like Delhi and Haryana."

He added that unless and until the school authorities bring down the school fee, the parents will not pay the increased fees. Shristi, another parent, argued that if the schools are not able to provide enough facilities for the students then they have no right to hike fee.

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