CM must call Special Session of Vidhan Sabha to legislate strong laws to curb commercialization of education, exploitation of parents and arbitrary increase in fees by public schools

AKASH DWIVEDI,Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, Sh. Vijender Gupta today urged the Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal to call a Special Session of the Vidhan Sabha to legislate strong laws to curb commercialization of education, exploitation of parents, arbitrary increase in fees etc. by public schools. Mr. Gupta said that despite Kejriwal Governments’ propaganda, the public schools continue to unscrupulously exploit parents. The Government has so far only issued misleading advertisements and statements but has actually miserably failed to come out with any effective legislation against the exploiting public schools. The Government in its advertisements refers to the Order of the Hon’ble High Court dated 19th January 2016. According to this, the public schools cannot increase fees without prior approval of the Government. But Delhi Government has conveniently hidden the fact that this Order is applicable only to those 200 schools only which were provided land at concessional rates by the DDA. The fact is that there are about 2000 public schools in Delhi out of which only 200 are covered by the above order. It is strange that the Government has made no legislation so far to exercise control over these schools. Therefore, said Mr. Gupta, the parents are under compulsion to be looted by public schools. The last date for depositing fees in private schools is 30th April. Dy. Chief Minister –cum-Education Minister is asking parents not to deposit the increased fees. The parents fail to understand what to do in such a situation. Will Mr. Sisodia be able to safeguard interest of parents who do not deposit increased fees by following his dictate? Mr. Gupta further informed that the Delhi Vidhan Sabha had passed a Bill in November 2015 under the title Delhi Schools [Verification of Accounts and Return of Excess Fees] Bill, 2015. It had stipulated that there will be no action against schools that increase fee but the Government will only examine their accounts. It is contrary to the present stand taken by the Government. Leader of Opposition said that it is essential to call a Special Session to legislate strong laws against all public schools and iron out the contradiction within the pending Bill and the present stand of the Government.