Hyderabad Parents Association Wants CBSE to Regulate the Schools Profiteering

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is controlled and managed by Union Government of India which is a board of education in India for public and private schools. To regulate various aspects from books to fees, etc.

CBSE makes rules from time to time to regulate and control the shortcomings and other related things which affect the education system in India. CBSE has made it mandatory for schools to follow rules and regulations pertaining to regulation of fee formed by the state/UT government. Any case of contempt of the rules will lead to disaffiliation of the schools from the Board and may further make them bear bitter consequences. Recently, CBSE has made NCERT books compulsory for all classes in public as well as private schools so as to restrict private organizations to make a huge profit on books and make the books available at reasonable prices. Now the main issue prevailing in the education sector is the fees which is high and not as per the rules of CBSE. The Board, in the revised affiliation bylaws, made it compulsory that the fees will be charged under the heads prescribed by the Department of Education of state/UTs. To curb down the problem, the Board has made it mandatory for the schools to adhere to the laws, regulation, and directions of the government for the revision of fees. The fee will not be revised without the process prescribed by the government under any circumstances. It further directed that the Acts and regulations of the Central and state/UT government enacted or framed in connection with the regulation of fee in respect to various categories of school will be applicable to the CBSE schools of that region as well. With the intent to curb profiteering motive of schools, the board stated that the schools shall charge fee to the extent of expenses being met by it. It also mentioned that in case of confrontation of these rules schools may face disaffiliation. CBSE is working on monitoring of the fees after the verdict of Supreme Court in T.M.A. Pai Foundation versus the State of Karnataka and others case; in which it held that education cannot be a profession or trade in the sense the words are used in Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. That is the primary article governing the right to “practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business”. Schools, therefore, must be a charitable activity regulated by the State. But still the Board seems to fail in its attempt to regulate the fees. Recently an active group named as Hyderabad Schools Parents Association (HSPA) has decided to send proofs of such violation to the Board. The Association says that board makes rules but is unable to levy it on schools strictly and make them comply it. They are proposing to put a huge penalty and immediate temporary disaffiliation in case of contempt of rules and some other strict steps if the school is not abiding by the rules.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/cbse-must-stop-schools-profiteering-hyd-parents-association-says-90325