Don't hike fees arbitrarily or run like business enterprises:

Amid concerns by parents over increase in school fees, HRD Minister Smriti Irani today said CBSE has asked affiliated schools not to effect any raise arbitrarily and take into confidence parent-teacher associations before initiating any hike.
The CBSE sent an advisory today to schools saying they should not burden the child and parents and should run as a "community service and not as a business enterprise".
It also directed schools not to hike fees in mid-session, saying fee should be in line with the facilities and no capitation fee should be charged, failing which, it threatened of action like fine and disaffiliation.

"We have through CBSE written to all schools saying that for hiking of fees in affiliated schools you have to take into confidence the parents-teacher association. Till such time they don't agree to a fee hike, and the fee hike is not in proportion to facilities that you are giving in schools," she told a press conference.
She was responding to a query on the concern by parents in cases of a steep hike in fee structure without informing them and which is uncalled for.
"You are not allowed to hike fees in the middle of the year and you are not allowed to keep away receipts which are rightfully to be given away to parents. These are the initiatives and instructions that are going through the government to schools and states so that the interests of the students can be protected," she said.

The CBSE advisory later said, "It has been observed recently that there is a growing tendency among some of the institutions to make profit by raising fees under various heads. A large number of CBSE schools are not adhering to the provisions concerning tuition fees laid down in the Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board which are mandatory in nature."

It further said, "Taking a very serious note of the complaints being received from parents regarding fee hike, capitation fee, the board has issued an advisory to all affiliated schools for strict adherence of the relevant Bye-laws of the Board."
As per the advisory, the CBSE has asked schools that the fee charged should be commensurate with the facilities provided and fees should normally be charged under the heads prescribed by the Department of Education of the State/U.T. for schools of different categories.

The CBSE said any school found indulging in such practices
shall be punished with fine which may extend to 10 times the capitation fee charged and in case a child is subjected to screening procedure, the school shall be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs 25,000 for first contravention and Rs 50,000 for each subsequent contravention.
It also said unaided schools should consult parents through parent's representatives before taking up the issue of fee revision in the school management committee and fee should not be revised during mid-session, directing the heads and managers of schools to take note and also bring it to the knowledge of school managing committee.

"In case of report of any violation of the relevant rules or bye-laws of the Board, an audit of the funds of the school will be conducted by CBSE which may lead to disaffiliation of the school," it said.
The Board also said school managements should generate sufficient financial resources to meet running expenses to maintain it at a reasonable standard, to pay salaries to teachers and staff regularly at least on par with those in state government schools.
It also asked school managements that to undertake improvement/development of facilities, they should "not make profit or misuse funds".
Irani, meanwhile, said HRD Ministry is also in touch with other ministries to ensure schools do not create pressure on parents for cash payments of fee which should be discouraged.