Schools in Delhi are under fire after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta received several complaints from children and parents regarding the harassment over paying school fees. In recent days, parents and students alleged that some prominent private schools require them to pay fees or leave the school.
Parents also alleged that schools are raising fees without proper approval and prior notice to them. Facing several issues related to the fee hike, parents and students reached Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's office and sought intervention in a major problem that decides students' futures.
Also Read | Mumbai Parents Struggle Under School Fee Hikes.
Delhi CM took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted a video saying that during her daily public meeting, she encountered a case related to school fees. "Today, during the public dialogue programme, a case related to Queen Mary School, Model Town came up, in which parents of children lodged a complaint regarding the wrong collection of fees and expulsion of children from the school."
"Taking immediate cognizance of this matter, the concerned officials have been instructed to conduct immediate investigation and take strict and necessary action. The Delhi Government is fully committed to transparency, equal opportunity and protection of children's rights in the field of education," CM Rekha Gupta said. After complaints from parents and students, she instructed authorities to take action against such schools.
"A Zero Tolerance policy has been adopted towards any kind of injustice, exploitation or irregularity- no laxity will be tolerated in this. Our resolve is clear—every child should have access to justice, respect and quality education," she wrote further.
While speaking to the media regarding the matter she said no school has right to harassed parents and students, if found such then, they will have to face the consequences. "Parents from several schools have been meeting me and sharing their problems. It's clear that no school has the right to harass, trouble, or threaten parents or students with expulsion, or to impose abnormal fee hikes. There are rules and laws that must be followed, and adherence to these is very important. If any school is found violating these norms, they will have to face the consequences..."