Fee panel sets Rs 5-11K band for unaided schools in state

CHENNAI: A committee set up by Tamil Nadu government to determine a new fee structure for private, unaided schools has unveiled a Rs 5,000-11,000 band, a formula unlikely to be accepted by many institutions.

The chairperson of the private schools fee determination committee, Justice K Govindarajan, told a press conference on Friday, "The approximate maximum amount we have fixed for a higher secondary school in the city is Rs 11,000, Rs 9,000 for a high school, Rs 8,000 for a middle school and Rs 5,000 for an elementary school." The committee also proposed that the school could charge an additional 10% on expenditure for future development.

The recommendations are meant to be binding on all institutions that come under the regulation of state boards, including matriculation and Anglo-Indian schools. The panel was formed in the wake of allegations that schools were profiteering by charging exorbitant fees.

However, managements of matriculation schools said the new fee structure would make running a school unviable. The principal and correspondent of Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School and general secretary of the Federation of Matriculation Schools' Associations in Tamil Nadu, N Vijayan, said, "This is a big setback for schools, a 25-30% cut. This will cause quality of schools to go down. All the matriculation schools have decided to approach the minister on Saturday with the problems we will face in running a school with such a fee structure."

One school head, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "In the current scenario, I cannot afford to open my school. Where will I get the money to pay my teachers, paint classrooms and prepare for the next academic year?"

Earlier in the day, school education minister Thangam Thennarasu said in the assembly that if there were any complaints regarding schools charging fees higher than that fixed by the committee, an enquiry would be conducted and stern action taken.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Fee-panel-sets-Rs-5-11K-band-for-unaided-schools-in-state/articleshow/5904942.cms

Fee Structure for schools announced

05.07.2010 (GMT+5.5)

Chennai: The Justice Govindarajan Commission, constituted by the Tamil Nadu Government to fix the fee structure for private schools, today announced the fee structure, ranging from Rs 3,500 to Rs 11,000, even as School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu warned of stern action against schools which collected higher fees.

Retired Judge K Govindarajan, heading the Commission, held detailed discussions with the heads of private schools, holding more than 15 sittings and announced the fee structure.

The chairperson of the private schools fee determination committee, Justice K Govindarajan, told a press conference on Friday, "The approximate maximum amount we have fixed for a higher secondary school in the city is Rs 11,000, Rs 9,000 for a high school, Rs 8,000 for a middle school and Rs 5,000 for an elementary school." The committee also proposed that the school could charge an additional 10% on expenditure for future development and no school could collect more than this.

The 10,951 private schools in the State would be informed of the fee strucutre, which would be in force for three years, he said.

If complaints were received that any particular school collected more than the fee fixed by the Commission and the same was proved, its recognition would be cancelled, he said.

However, managements of matriculation schools said the new fee structure would make running a school unviable. The principal and correspondent of Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School and general secretary of the Federation of Matriculation Schools' Associations in Tamil Nadu, N Vijayan, said, "This is a big setback for schools, a 25-30% cut. This will cause quality of schools to go down. All the matriculation schools have decided to approach the minister on Saturday with the problems we will face in running a school with such a fee structure."

One school head, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "In the current scenario, I cannot afford to open my school. Where will I get the money to pay my teachers, paint classrooms and prepare for the next academic year?"

Meanwhile, Mr Thennarasu, replying to a Call Attention in the State Assembly, warned of stern action against schools which collected higher fees.

The State Government had constituted the Commission following complaints that private schools, in many parts of the State, were collecting higher fees, detrimental to the interest of poor students.
http://www.stockwatch.in/fee-fixed-private-schools-tamil-nadu-25817

India 'colonial' shoe ban drive

India 'colonial' shoe ban drive

Indian children could soon be wearing canvas shoes to school rather than the heavy leather brogues, widely viewed as relics from the British colonial era.

Indian politician Maneka Gandhi is campaigning to ban the shoes as they are "unhealthy and uncomfortable" and "destroying" the feet of school-goers.

Reports say the drive is supported by two major school boards. Education policy-makers have not yet commented.

Black leather shoes are mandatory for students in most schools in India.

"Leather shoes are really bad for our children," news agency AFP quoted Ms Gandhi as saying.

These shoes, originally from Ireland and Scotland, were suitable for cold climates and not for the heat of India, she added.

Last year, Ms Gandhi wrote to the human resource development ministry protesting against the use of leather shoes.

The ministry then asked school boards for their opinion.

According to reports, the two main boards - Central Board of School Education (CBSE) and Indian Council for Secondary Education (ICSE) - have responded favourably to the suggestion.

Ms Gandhi says several schools in the southern city of Madras (Chennai) have already swapped leather shoes for canvas ones. A similar move is underway in the northern city of Chandigarh too, she says.

Maneka Gandhi is the daughter-in-law of former Indian premier Indira Gandhi and the widow of her younger son, Sanjay Gandhi.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/8664721.stm

Published: 2010/05/06 13:04:54 GMT

© BBC MMX

Mr. DM plz do something

i next reporter
KANPUR (16 April) : भीषण धूप और चिलचिलाती गर्मी से जहां स्कूली बच्चे बीमार पड़ रहे हैं. वहीं पैरेंट्स को भी तमाम दिक्कतों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है. इसके बावजूद स्कूलों की टाइमिंग जस की तस है. स्कूलों की इसी मनमानी से तंग आकर पैरेंट्स ने डीएम से हस्तक्षेप कर स्कूल टाइमिंग में बदलाव की अपील की है.
स्कूलों की मनमानी
सर पद्मपत सिंघानिया में पढ़ने वाले बच्चे के फादर आरसी भट्ट के मुताबिक दोपहर दो बजे घर वापसी के दौरान बच्चों की हालत खराब हो जाती है. मर्सी मेमोरियल की एक स्टूडेंट की मदर सुनीता ने बताया कि दोपहर को घर लौटते वक्त कभी-कभी कनवेंस नहीं मिलता. जिससे ज्यादा परेशानी होती है. किरन और सुधाकर के अनुसार दोपहर को बिजली कटौती के चलते बच्चों की हालत खराब हो जाती है. अगर डीएम ऑर्डर करें तो स्कूल की टाइमिंग चेंज हो सकता है.
डीएम से मिले
उधर, आइडियल पैरेंट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन ने फ्राइडे को डीएम अमृत अभिजात से मुलाकात कर स्कूल टाइमिंग में बदलाव की गुहार लगाई. एसोसिएशन के महामंत्री उमंग अग्रवाल ने कहा कि सभी स्कूलों को दोपहर दो बजे तक छुट्टी कर देनी चाहिए. जिससे बच्चे समय पर घर वापस आ जाएं. अगर प्रशासन जल्द कोई ठोस कदम नहीं उठाएगा, तो हम अपने बच्चों को स्कूल नहीं भेजकर उनकी जान जोखिम में नहीं डालेंगे. एसोसिएशन ने डीएम से स्कूलों के मनमानी फीस वसूली के मुद्दे को भी पुरजोर तरीके से उठाया.

Books of Class 4th Allen House

Niharika Garments Invoice

Admission से पहले होगा घमासान!

KANPUR (16 Feb): एडमिशन फार्म मिलने शुरू होने के साथ ही पैरेंट्स और स्कूलों के बीच पिछली बार की तरह महाभारत छिड़ने की आशंकाएं पैदा हो गई हैं. कारण वही पुराना है. पैरेंट्स एसोसिएशनों के अनुसार स्कूलों ने कोर्ट आदेशों की फिक्र नहीं करते हुए फिर से प्रेमिसिस से ही किताब-कॉपियां और यूनिफार्म बेचने की तैयारी कर ली है. वहीं रोक के बावजूद नन्हे बच्चों और पैरेंट्स के इंटरव्यूज की घोषणाएं की जा रही हैं. पैरेंट्स ने नए सिरे से स्कूल प्रबंधनों के खिलाफ कोर्ट जाने की तैयारी कर ली है. रजिस्ट्रेशन से लेकर एडमिशन फीस और कॉशन मनी तक पर विवाद होने के आसार हैं. पैरेंट्स एसोसिएशंस कलेक्ट्रेट से लेकर स्कूलों तक पर धरने प्रदर्शन और आमरण अनशन करने की तैयारी में हैं.
पैरेंट्स सएोसिएशंस के पदाधिकारी जितेंद्र चौहान और उमंग अग्रवाल कहते हैं कि दिल्ली के एक केस में हाई कोर्ट से सुप्रीम कोर्ट तक स्कूल से यूनिफार्म और बुक्स वगैरह नहीं बेचने का आदेश दे चुके हैं. पर कमीशन के चक्कर में स्कूल वाले या तो स्कूल से ही या फिर किसी एक खास शॉप से ही बुक्स लाने को आज भी पेरेंट्स को मजबूर करते हैं. वो पब्लिशर से भी कमीशन के चक्कर में छोटे क्लासों की कुछ खास बुक्स ही मंगाते भी हैं, जिनका न तो कोई सब्स्टीट्यूट होता है और न ही दूसरी बुक्स एक्सेप्ट करते हैं. मजबूरी में उसी जगह से लेनी पड़ती है.