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

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