Parents stage a protest on the campus of Stewart School on Friday and (inset) principal Asha M. Das. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 15: Parents of students studying in Stewart School today staged a protest against a fee hike alleging that that the management enforced the hike without consulting them.

“It was only two days ago that we got to know about a hike in the annual fee. It has been increased from Rs 300 to Rs 1,500. The amount has to be paid at the beginning of the session. Moreover, the monthly tuition fee, which used to vary between Rs 620 and Rs 720 depending which class a student’s was in, has been increased to between Rs 720 and Rs 800 a month. We are against the fee hike which is not only arbitrary but also irrational,” said Biswaranjan Das (42), a parent.

Demanding an immediate rollback of the decision, the parents today staged the protest in front of the bank on the school campus.

According to the revised fee structure, all students from Class I to Class X have to pay between Rs 720 and 800 (including computer fees) every month.

Stewart School principal Asha M. Das told The Telegraph that the tuition fee had been hiked after consultation with the parents’ association and the latter had had agreed for a phased hike of the fee structure. “Keeping in view the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, there was a unanimous decision to hike the fees in a systematic way so that there was no extra burden on the parents. This was agreed by the association three years ago,” Das said.

According to the school authorities, a lot of new teaching facilities including Smart classes have been introduced from this academic session. As a result, the parents have been asked to pay Rs 750 annually. Besides, infrastructure facilities in the form of new buildings and air-conditioned classrooms and additional toilets for students have been established.

The revised annual fee (Rs 1,500) includes Rs 750 for the smart classes, insurance for children, printing the school magazine and hymn book, examination fee, establishment and staff welfare fund and issuance of identity cards.

“There has been some communication gap. We will certainly discuss the matter with the parents concerned and it will be resolved at the earliest,” Das added.