DPS hikes tuition, other fees by 20% in 2 sessions, says official report

Srinagar, Apr 8: An inquiry into the ‘arbitrary’ fee hike by Delhi Public School (DPS) Athwajan here has revealed that the school administration—in blatant violation of the High Court orders—has hiked the fee for the academic year 2015-16 by over 20 percent. And according to inquiry report submitted to J&K’s School Fee Fixation Committee by Chief Education Officer Srinagar, the school also intends to enhance school fee for academic year 2016-17 with effect from April 2016.
In his report, CEO Srinagar has stated that the school (DPS Athwajan) has enhanced the school fee for the past two consecutive academic sessions without seeking permission from the fee fixation committee, thus violating the HC directions.
The report states that the transportation charges have been enhanced by the school administration from Rs 900 in 2014 to Rs 1500 till date, besides giving a hike in printing charges from Rs 1000 in 2014 to Rs 4000 in 2016.
“The school has also charged heating charges worth Rs 700 for few days in December 2015 and miscellaneous fund of Rs 300 as per the fee receipt.”
The inquiry reports states that the school administration is charging Rs 700 for IT and SMS services from students for sending school notices and circulars to the parents. “But the school failed to provide any documentary proof to the inquiry team,” reads the report, adding that the school management failed to provide any explanation despite sufficient time provided to them. “The school is charging ambiguous funds in the name of heating, IT and Miscellaneous funds from students.”
The SFFC has directed the school management and Principal to “follow the HC order strictly and reduce the present fee structure by next date and return excess money to the students within seven days.”
“Otherwise action as indicated in the show cause notice issued earlier will be taken against the School.”
Earlier, the SFFC served a show cause to the school to which the management of DPS Srinagar has replied and blamed parents for admitting their wards in the institution. “We don’t force a parent to send his ward for quality education that we impart. If he is not satisfied, he can send the ward to a school where he is satisfied,” reads the reply. “There is no compulsion for parents to choose a particular school and then “try and find the faults in it.”
The reply further reads that DPS was run by D P Dhar Memorial Trust on no profit and no loss basis and is involved in imparting “quality education, social responsibility programmes for preserving the cultural heritage and other social charitable activities.” “We are not involved in any kind of unfair trade practice and nobody is deriving any profit or personal gains.”