Noida magistrate promises to limit increase in school fees to 10%

The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration officials said that hike of more than 10% of school fees is not acceptable.

The district administration officials said that hike of more than 10% of school fees is not acceptable. The administration assured parents that action will be initiated after all schools submit justification for the hike.

File photo of parents meeting Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate NP Singh demanding rollback of fee hike in the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida.(Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

Officials said that only 15 of the 70 private schools that have been issued notice have responded so far.

“At present, we have received reports from 15 schools. There are around 70 schools in the two cities. Schools have asked for more time to submit their reports. We will wait till Wednesday, after which the administration will appoint experts to study reports and suggest lawful measures,” Bachhu Singh, city magistrate, said.

The city magistrate said that hike up to 10% is reasonable.

“There are allegations by parents that some schools have hiked fees by more than 10%. We will ensure the schools rollback hike that is in excess of 10% immediately but final action will be taken only after a thorough scrutiny,” the city magistrate said.

The district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, NP Singh, had appointed a committee under the city magistrate to look into the issue after parents across the district had lodged their protest demanding administrative measures against monopoly of private schools.

Meanwhile, Gautam Budh Nagar Parents Association, a parents’ body, on Monday met the city magistrate and demanded rollback of hiked fee.

“We have decided for more aggressive protest if the administration fails to give us justice. We will decide on the course of our action on Saturday. We have met the city magistrate and he has assured us of rollback,” Neeti Srivastava, president of GBN Parents Association, said.

The association has also formed a WhatsApp group so that parents from across the NCR can come together for aggressive protests against schools.