Patna, July 16: The education department will take stern action against private schools that have hiked tuition fees and compelled students to buy books from private publishers.
Education minister Ashok Choudhary announced so at a programme organised by the Private Schools and Children Welfare Association. "The education department has received a lot of complaints from parents regarding fee hike and schools forcing students to buy non-NCERT books," he said at the 6th Pratibha Samman Samaraoh. "We will impose certain guidelines for the schools and take action against them if they do not follow it. The department will also keep tabs on schools running in every nook and corner across the state without any affiliation."
Choudhary added that the department would tighten its noose on private schools not following Right to Education (RTE) norms. One of the main norms under the RTE calls for 25 per cent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools.
"The department will soon hold a meeting in which the guidelines on fee hike will be decided and announced. In addition to this, the department will start searching for schools not following RTE guidelines. The nature of action to be taken will be decided once the meeting is done," Choudhary said.
Choudhary was invited to the event to felicitate CBSE and ICSE toppers from the state - Ashutosh Mishra, Aarish Aftab, Vishishth Priyadarshi and Taay Hannan. Choudhary handed each student a cheque of Rs 11,000 as recognition for their performance in the 2016 board examinations. St Michael's High School, Patna, Delhi Public School, Sitamarhi, and St Paul's High School, Patna, received the award for best schools.
"I want to be an IAS officer and serve my country," said Ashutosh Mishra, the CBSE Class XII state topper who has secured a seat in NIT-Calicut.
ICSE topper Taay said: "Such kind of motivation help us do better in academics. I am preparing for competitive exams and want to become a computer engineer."
"Around 15 per cent children are not getting education because of poverty and illiteracy," minister Choudhary said. "Privileged students need to encourage them to enrol in government schools."
The minister will undertake a three-day padyatra in the Seemanchal region from July 17 to make the people aware about the government's education schemes.
