Dhanbad

Dhanbad : Growing protest of parents demanding  ban  on readmission fee  in schools, Dhanbad district administration finally swung into action and called a meeting of all school principals to discuss on the ongoing row.

According to the information, on April 22, a meeting has been called to discuss readmission issue as well as the proper implementation Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act. Beside, parent’s representatives, members of civil society and officials of education department will participate in the meet. Deputy Commissioner, KN Jha is to president the meeting .

District Superintendent of Education (DSE) BB Singh, who has given the responsibility to invite school principals, they are of the view to ensure proper implementation of RTE. “Readmission now emerged as a serious issue as continuous protests of parents compelled district administration to initiate proper action to reduce the gaps between parents and school managements,” said DSE.

These days, the parents are on boil and have started protesting against realization of the re-admission fee in Dhanbad even after Jharkhand chief minister ordered ban on realization of the readmission fee in private schools. Almost schools of the district are now facing the protest of parents daily as parents mounting pressure on schools to refund the additional amount taken in name of readmission.

Parents under the banner of Jharkhand Avibhawak Mahasangh (JAM) raised voices against the schools to refund the fees taken on the name of readmission. “It is a cheating with parents as schools shouldn’t have charged additional money on the name of readmission, if it was prohibited under RTE Act,” said Mahesh Singh one of the parents. Besides the student organizations, member of civil society Dhanbad, and BJP Women’s cell also protested against readmission and burnt the effigy of school principals.

Manoj Mishra, Secretary JAM said the Supreme Court has already banned any capitation fee, development fee, annual fee or fees taken on the name of readmission. “There is no provision of readmission under RTE as a child once admitted will continue his/her schooling without taking any additional fee on the name of readmission, development or annual charges,” said Mishra.

Ranvijay Singh, President JAM said the commercialization of education will not be tolerated and private schools will have to follow the rules in accordance with the RTE. “The state government must initiate action for the proper implementation of RTE in the state,” said Singh.

Protest have been reported in different parts of city outside schools in which parents demanded refund of the readmission fee.