Shocking behavior by Brighton World School in Kalyan
So far many cases have been reported on arbitrariness of private schools,
mostly with regards to fee hike. There were reports of school administration
has taken aggressive action to clear the outstanding fees but what has been
witnessed by the parents & students of Brighton World School is very
shocking and unethical. As parents did not pay the fees on time and also
raised voice against the school administration on fee hike, Brighton World
School has removed nearly six students from the school and has also sent
their ‘Leaving Certificate’at their home by post. This has created an academic
crisis in front of these students as the ‘LC’ was sent without mentioning that
students have passed their academic year. Among these six students, one
student is in 10th standard, he may now have to suffer a major educational
loss.
The academic future of the six students is in dark
D.S.D. School in Gauripada area by Farmer Broadcasting Board (Shetkari
Prasarak Mandal) comes under Kalyan Municipal Corporation. This school
was recently renamed as Brighton World School. There were already many
complaints against school for hiking the fee. The school hiked the fee for the
current academic year too. Many parents protested against this consistent fee
hike act by school. However, the school was very much firm on its decision of
increasing the fee. Therefore, the School has taken the one-sided decision to
remove those six students from the school whose parents opposed the fee
hike. While implementing this decision, school sent the LC to those six
students at their residence. This unethical decision by school has brought big
academic crises to the students.
Proposal for withdrawal of School’s approval
Meanwhile, the parents have complained to the Child Rights Commission in
this regard, the Commission has issued a notice to the school and asked to
send a clarification in seven days. The school has not yet given any
explanation about this. Along with Child Rights Commission, parents have also
complained to Mumbai’s Education Deputy Director, Education Officer of
Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, and local Education Inspector.
In this regard, a committee comprising administration officials of Kalyan-
Dombivli Education Department visited the school administration and
inquired the matter. This committee has blamed the school in its report; ‘My
Mahanagar’ has exclusively received this report which stated that the school
has violated the norms of Education Fees Act.
In the report, committee has ordered the school to take these six students
back to school. However, these students have yet not been reinstated in the
school. This has shown that the school violated the Free and Compulsory
Education Rights Act for the children. Therefore, on this ground parents has
submitted the proposal to Kalyan Municipal Education Officer to withdraw the
approval of the school. However, the school is not yet ready to take the
students back.
What are the allegations on the school?
The school is asking for an annual fee of Rs 24,100 / – per student, but the
school has not yet returned the extra fees which have been paid by the
students in last four-five years, as per government order. Apart from this, the
PTA (Parent Teachers Association) members opposed the increase of Rs.
24,100, yet the school imposed a raise. Going against the School’s Education
Fee Law, Brighton World School is increasing fee every year. Apart from this,
Parents have also complained that books, stationery and uniforms are also
sold by the school forcefully which is illegal.
What Parents are saying . . .
-Rameswar Dakhorkar, parent of the student who took action
“There are many private schools in the state making profits. This is now a high
time to control their arbitrariness. We have paid the fees as per the rule, but
still the school is constantly demanding fee hike. And if we fail to pay the
increased fee, we are being mentally tortured by taking such unethical actions.
Today, 15 days have passed since the school started, but my son did not go to
school.”
The only reply received from school is. . .
“At present, we will not comment on this topic.”
– Iffi Ferro, DS Dasai High School, Headmaster
