In order to resolve the issue of unjust fee hikes initiated by schools, the Maharashtra state school education department has created Divisional Fee Regulatory Committees (DFRCs) in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Aurangabad division, announced Varsha Gaikwad, state school education minister on Monday. These committees are formed as per the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act (MEIR, Act), 2011.
Gaikwad said, “Parents aggrieved by the rampant school fee hike, will not have to worry about this anymore. The Divisional Fee Regulatory Committees (DFRCs) are active now in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Aurangabad.”
In the last one year, several parents had raised an issue of unjust school fee hikes and had demanded relaxations in fees, considering the financial crisis and shift to online education due to the pandemic.
On the other hand, schools said they need fees to pay salaries of teachers and develop digital learning resources for students.
Gaikwad said, "While most educational institutions have been doing a stellar job during the pandemic, we have still been receiving representations or complaints from parents regarding overcharging by a few."
DFRCs for the remaining divisions of Maharashtra will be formed soon. Gaikwad added, "Based on the selection panel's recommendations, we have also strengthened the state level revision committee. Our policy discourages commercialisation and profiteering in the education sector. Strict action will be taken against schools indulging in malpractices."
