Pune: Complaints registered against 37 schools for fee hike in lockdown

Pune, June 29, 2020: Complaints have been registered against 37 schools in Pune district for hiking school fees, despite orders from the State Government to not raise fees this year.

State Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad had instructed the schools across the state not to pressurise parents to pay fees, or increase school fees during the lockdown. Despite that, it has been found that several schools have raised their fees. Notices have also been issued to some of these schools by the Education Department.

Parents have said that the schools are pressurising them to pay fees via email, SMSes, or are sending people to their homes to ask for fees. The Education Department has also started a complaint forum and helpline on Twitter for complaints against English schools. In Pune city, complaints have been registered by parents against 15 schools in Kothrud, Kondhwa, Hadapsar, Dhole-Patil Road, Yerwada, Bhavani Peth areas. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, complaints have been received against 13 schools. Nine schools in Pune rural have been complained against.

In Pune Division, to complain against schools, people can call Pune Rural Deputy Education Officer Jyoti Parihar (Primary) 8888225364, Sudhakar Pakhare (Secondary) 9822510618, Dhananjay Pardeshi (PMC) 9404609170, Vilas Patil (PCMC) 8007804777