School fee hike: Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren has warned of strict action by taking a tough stand on the arbitrariness of private schools. His comment has created a stir in the state in cases like fee hike, re-admission in the name of re-admission and selling book-copy. In a special conversation till date, Soren said that this issue is not new.
According to Education Minister Ramdas Soren, in the year 2017, the “double engine” government of the then Raghuvar Das enacted a law to control the fees of private schools, but was not implemented. He taunted and said, “Perhaps that government had a connivance with private schools, so the law was limited to paper.”
Soren told that now the same BJP MLA, who was part of that government, is questioning the arbitrariness of private schools from his government. The Education Minister said, “While answering their questions in the House, we have given assurance of action. A letter has been sent to the Deputy Commissioners of every district in this regard. If evidence is found against the schools in the investigation, strict steps will be taken.” He also said that even the recognition of schools can be canceled in serious cases.
This action has started from East Singhbhum, the home district of the education minister. The District Education Department has issued a notice to 73 private schools for selling books and violation of rules related to fees. These schools will have to answer to the District Education Officer by 3 April. Soren said, “Our aim is to give relief to children and parents. Private school cannot make education business.”
This step is the result of the recent questions in the Jharkhand Assembly, where the BJP MLAs sought an answer from the government on the fee hike and re-admission fee. Describing it as an irony, Soren said that his government will implement the old law as well as bring new system so that education can be accessible to everyone. This statement has caused panic in private schools, and parents are looking at it as expected of relief.