BERHAMPUR:Parents of civilian students in the Army Public School here have decided to oppose the increase in fee by exorbitant 300 per cent from 2015-16 academic year. While the school admits children of both Army personnel and civilians, the school fee hike is applicable to only civilian students.
The Army Public School, functioning under Lucknow-based Army Welfare Education Society, imparts education from Class I to XII as per CBSE curriculum on the premises of Army Air Defence College at Golabandh.
When the Army Air Defence College was set up in 1980s, the Society assured the people, whose land was acquired for the project, of providing free education to their children at the school that was established in 1997.
Ten per cent of the student strength of the school was reserved for civilian students. Currently, 76 civilian students are studying in the school which has 850 students in its roll.
However, the school fee for civilian students has been increased over the years and the last hike of 13 per cent was enforced in 2013-14 academic year.
In a letter addressed to Major General BN Vijay Kumar, Chairman of the School, the civilian parents appealed to consider not increasing the school fees. They stated that civilians cannot afford a fee hike like their well-paid Army counterparts.
G Lalita, an oustee who was rehabilitated in New Golabandh colony, said despite assurance the Army Welfare Education Society forgot its commitment of free education to civilian students. Another parent, K Aditya of Buxipalli, said as per CBSE rules and the Red Book of Army Public School, the school fee can be hiked by 10 per cent every academic year. “The school authorities have overlooked the norms to implement the exorbitant fee hike,” he alleged.
Copies of the letter have been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Defence, Director of Army Welfare Education Society Col Satish Chander (Retd), CBSE, National Human Rights Commission and Ganjam Collector Prem Chandra Choudhary.
Norms Ignored
■ The Army Public School management has increase the school fees for civilian students by 300 per cent from 2015-16 academic year
■ When the Army Air Defence College was set up in 1980s, the Society assured the people, whose land was acquired for the project, of providing free education to their children at the school that was established in 1997