Jharkhand targets private schools charging readmission fees

The Jharkhand government plans to take action against private schools that charge readmission fees. Education Minister Ramdas Soren made this announcement during a recent assembly session. He emphasized the importance of addressing irregularities in private schools. Soren mentioned that regular meetings of district-level committees will be conducted to monitor these issues. He responded to concerns raised by BJP MLAs about private schools exploiting parents with high fee structures. If complaints are received, the government will act accordingly. The minister explained that each school has a management committee that includes parents, teachers, and the principal to decide on fee structures. If a school commits any irregularity, the district-level committee can impose fines between Rs 50 and Rs 2.5 lakh. Schools that don’t follow regulations may risk losing their accreditation. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi highlighted that the existing committees do not meet often enough. He suggested that these committees should meet every month, especially before the admission season. Soren agreed to ensure that meetings occur regularly, with agendas provided to members in advance. Pradip Prasad, another BJP legislator, called for a law to tackle private school irregularities. This proposal gained support from the Speaker and Soren stated that if recommended by the district committees, the government would consider it.