More than 300 complaints regarding fee hikes in K'taka schools prompt action from Child Rights Panel
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has received numerous complaints this year from parents regarding abnormal fee hikes and unfair practices by several top private unaided schools in Bengaluru.
Most complaints relate to unjustified increases in school fees, lack of transparency in fee revisions, and pressure on parents to buy textbooks, uniforms, shoes, bags, and other materials from designated vendors. Following these complaints, the commission has issued notices to some of the schools, most of which are affiliated to the Central Board, Deccan Herald reported on Sunday.
Responding to the complaints, the commission has begun issuing notices. “We have received over 300 complaints this year and are taking action based on the seriousness of each case. On Wednesday, we issued notices to three schools run by a prestigious group in Central Bengaluru,” K. Naganna Gowda, chairperson of the commission, was quoted as saying by DH.
He added that the commission will write to the Commissioner for School Education to seek further action against institutions found violating provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
As per norms, private schools are allowed to increase fees by 10 to 12 percent annually. However, some schools have reportedly hiked fees by as much as 40 percent this year. "We have also registered a few suo motu complaints based on media reports about abnormal fee hikes. The government should take the issue of fee fixation seriously and monitor schools to determine the basis on which fees are being raised," Gowda said.
The commission is also reviewing complaints alleging that schools have harassed parents and punished children when requests were made for transfer certificates. In some cases, schools have reportedly withheld transfer certificates unless parents cleared the full year’s fees. Few complaints even allege instances of corporal punishment.
"We are verifying such cases, and if the allegations are proved during inquiry, we will recommend action as per the RTE Act," Gowda assured.
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IAF to hold 2-day wargame along frontier with Pakistan: NOTAM issued
New Delhi, May 6 (PTI): The Indian Air Force will carry out a two-day mega military exercise along the border with Pakistan from Wednesday that will involve all the frontline fighter jets including Rafale, Su-30 and Jaguar aircraft, sources in the defence establishment said on Tuesday.
The exercise is taking place amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
India's civil aviation authorities have already issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the major air exercise that will largely take place along the southern and western section of the Indo-Pakistan border.
India's frontline fighter jets including the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Tejas and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft are set to feature in the exercise, the sources said.
In the course of the exercise, the IAF will simulate enemy targets on ground and in the air with deadly precision, they said.
The militaries of both India and Pakistan are on a high alert following rising tensions between the two nations.
Soon after the Pahalgam terror attack, India, citing "cross-border linkages" to the strike, promised severe punishment to those involved in it.
In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass on April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the terror attack.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh met Prime Minister Modi on Sunday and the Chief of Air Staff briefed him about the IAF's operational readiness.
On Saturday, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi apprised the prime minister on the overall situation in the critical sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.
