A large number of students and parents of St Lowrence Convent School, Geeta Colony, as well as parents members of All India Parents Association today protested outside the office of the Director of Education, Govt of NCT of Delhi, Old Secretariat Building against serious psychological violence on hundreds of innocent children studying in St. Lowrence Convent School by the school authorities in the guise of ‘’Smart Class’’.
With placards in their hands, the protestors shouted slogans against the government and school authorities. The protestors led by social activist and national president of All India Parents Association, Mr Ashok Agarwal, thereafter met the Director of Education and apprised him of the blatant discrimination taking place in the school. Mr Agarwal also submitted a detailed memorandum in the matter and sought immediate action against the school in the matter.
According to Mr Agarwal, the school has increased the fees in the mid-session in the guise of Smart Class in clear violation of Section
17 of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 as the school has not obtained prior permission from DOE for increasing the fees. Moreover, when the parents objected to the illegal action of the school, the school resorted to discriminate their wards by separating their classes. Even 41 EWS students were not spared by the school as they were declined the facility of EDUCOMP as they were unable to meet the demand of the school. They were also unjustly separated by other students.
Narrating the humiliation, harassment and discrimination by the management and school authorities of St Lowrence Convent School, the children and their parents said they have been completely traumatized; and if no immediate action is taken to check it would leave a permanent scar on the innocent minds.
According to the memorandum submitted to the Director of Education, some glaring facts relating to the case are as follows:
(i) The school has implemented a new "Smart Class" program and is
charging Rs 400/- per month per student. And from 17.10.2011 onwards
school has divided (DISCRIMINATED) students as "EDUCOMP STUDENTS" and
"NON-EDUCOMP STUDENTS." Therefore, those students who have not paid
this "Smart Class" Charges are not allowed to sit with their
classmates for merely Rs. 400/. This is despite the fact that all
students have already paid their Quarterly Fee of approx. Rs. 8,500.
(ii) The school authorities have gone to the extent of dividing
(discriminating) non-educomp students’ classes in different rooms and
even teachers, sections and their classmates have been changed.
(iii) This sudden discriminatory change in the middle of the session
will not just make the children unable to concentrate in their studies
but will have a serious negative psychological impact on their
innocent minds.
(iv) As many as 500-odd students have not paid this Smart Class Charges.
(v) This Educomp charge itself is on the higher side. The school has
Educomp as their Official Partner in this project. On the website of
Educomp it is clearly mentioned that Smart Class Charges are between
Rs 100-150 per student per month.
The memorandum further stated that the aforesaid action on the part of the school
tantamount to commercialization of Education. It is all greed on the
part of the school which has resulted in exploitation of hapless
parents/students. Apart from that, the same is in clear violation of
Section 17 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act,
2009 which prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment to
child. Moreover, the same amounts to cruelty to child and attracts
punishment under Section 23 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection
of Children) Act, 2000. U.S. Supreme Court in
case of Brown v. Board of Education 347 U.S. 283 (1954) where it has
been held that “separate education facilities are inherently unequal”
and thus, violate the doctrine of equality.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
IT IS ALL GREED
CASE OF HUMILIATION, HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION OF HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT STUDENTS BY THE SCHOOL - All India Parents Association (AIPA) has received a complaint from the parents body of St. Lowrence Convent School, Geeta Colony, Delhi regarding serious psychological violence on hundreds of students by the school authorities in the guise of "Smart Class". AIPA is going to ask the Director of Education to immediately intervene in the matter otherwise the parents/students would stage a peaceful demonstration on Monday 24 October 2011 at 4 pm in front of his office at Old Secretariat Building, Civil Lines, Delhi-54.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
RIGHT TO EDUCATION - THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN DHARNA
ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION
Agarwal Bhawan, G T Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi-110 054 Tel:9811101923, 91.9717278279
PRESS RELEASE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE PARTICIPATE IN MASS PROTEST RALLY AND DHARNA OUTSIDE RAJGHAT ON SUNDAY MORNING
NEW DELHI, 9 October: Thousands of people from all walks of life, which included a large number of women and children, took part in a mass rally and dharna outside Rajghat to protest against the arbitrary school fee hike in private schools in Delhi and other parts of the country.
The protest rally was organised by the All India Parents Association (AIPA), the apex parents body which was formed following the arbitrary fee hike undertaken by private schools on the pretext of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations.
Speaking at the rally, social activist and AIPA national president, Mr Ashok Agarwal stressed the need to reform the school education in the country. Mr Agarwal sought the enactment of a Central law to regulate the fees and other charges in unaided private schools all across the country as well as a resolution by all the State Assemblies in support of the same.
There was also an urgent need to remove the disparities between various government schools, he said, and all government run schools should at least be brought to the level of Kendriya Viidyalayas (Central Schools).
The other demands of the All India Parents Association include the initiation of criminal proceedings against the 25 erring private school in the Capital who are inducted by the CAG recently.
The AIPA has also written a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh recently seeking an effective central law to check arbitrary fee hike in unaided private schools as well as for upgrading all government schools to the level of central schools.
Agarwal Bhawan, G T Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi-110 054 Tel:9811101923, 91.9717278279
PRESS RELEASE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE PARTICIPATE IN MASS PROTEST RALLY AND DHARNA OUTSIDE RAJGHAT ON SUNDAY MORNING
NEW DELHI, 9 October: Thousands of people from all walks of life, which included a large number of women and children, took part in a mass rally and dharna outside Rajghat to protest against the arbitrary school fee hike in private schools in Delhi and other parts of the country.
The protest rally was organised by the All India Parents Association (AIPA), the apex parents body which was formed following the arbitrary fee hike undertaken by private schools on the pretext of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations.
Speaking at the rally, social activist and AIPA national president, Mr Ashok Agarwal stressed the need to reform the school education in the country. Mr Agarwal sought the enactment of a Central law to regulate the fees and other charges in unaided private schools all across the country as well as a resolution by all the State Assemblies in support of the same.
There was also an urgent need to remove the disparities between various government schools, he said, and all government run schools should at least be brought to the level of Kendriya Viidyalayas (Central Schools).
The other demands of the All India Parents Association include the initiation of criminal proceedings against the 25 erring private school in the Capital who are inducted by the CAG recently.
The AIPA has also written a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh recently seeking an effective central law to check arbitrary fee hike in unaided private schools as well as for upgrading all government schools to the level of central schools.
Friday, October 7, 2011
CONTROL SCHOOL FEES & UPGRADE GOVT SCHOOLS TO KVS - AIPA WRITES TO PM
ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION
Agarwal Bhawan G.T. Road
Tis Hazari, Delhi-110054 (India)
Ph.- 09811101923, 09717278279
07.10.2011
To
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
7, Race Course Road,
New Delhi-110001
Sub: - NEED OF THE HOUR: a Central Law to check arbitrary fee hike in unaided private schools and Up-grading all Govt. schools to the minimum
level of Central Schools
My Dear Respected Prime Minister,
We have the honor to bring to your kind notice that the common people in this country is unable to obtain quality school education for their wards, because on the one hand, government schools by and large lack basic physical and academic infrastructure and suffer from mismanagement resulting in inferior quality of education; on the other hand, when they turn to unaided private schools offering better quality they are mercilessly exploited through the imposition of arbitrary, unjust and exorbitant fees etc. In other words, the common man is a victim of a situation created by the State.
It is submitted that the Apex Court has time and again affirmed that capitation fee, exorbitant fees, profiteering, commercialization of education and exploitation of parents/students by the unaided private schools are not permissible in law and that the Government, not only has the powers, but also the duty to regulate fees and other charges in these schools to prevent commercialization of education. However, in the absence of a legal framework at the national level, which can control and regulate the unaided private schools in the matter of fees and other charges, the affirmation of the Apex Court remains a pious wish.
Among the states, the only exception is the Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009 (In short, Tamil Nadu Act, 2009) but it is limited to the State of Tamil Nadu.
The parents and the students all over the country have been agitating against the Governments’ failure to curb commercialization of education in unaided private schools. The need of the hour is to have a central law to regulate fees and other charges in these unaided private schools all over the country, may be, on the lines of the Tamil Nadu Act, 2009.
It is submitted that after the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order of 11.05.2010 dismissing Special Leave Petitions of several Unaided Private Schools of the State of Tamil Nadu challenging the Madras High Court Judgment of 09.04.2010 upholding the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009 and The Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Rules, 2009, the Central Government should have brought a national law immediately on the lines of Tamil Nadu Act, 2009 to protect the hapless parents and students from such exploitation. However, the Central Government has not done any thing so far in this regard.
All India Parents Association (AIPA) has since long been demanding a Central Law to deal with the issue of commercialization in unaided private school.
Secondly, the standard of education in state government schools all over the country is, by and large, of inferior quality with the exceptions of Central Schools, such as the KVS, Navodaya Schools, Sainik Schools etc. The expenditure per child in ordinary government school is extremely low in comparison to what is spent in Central Schools. Lack of physical and academic infrastructure is a common feature in the ordinary government-run schools.
Poor administration and management ensures that no education worth the name takes place in these schools. It is interesting to note, that even the teachers in these schools, do not send their own children to these schools as they are convinced that these schools are inferior.
The prevailing discriminatory system of public education goes contrary to the constitutional philosophy of equality, social justice and right to good quality education. There is urgent need to undo this discriminatory system of public education system. The only solution is that all government-run schools all over the country should be upgraded to the minimum level of Central Schools.
In order of highlight our aforementioned demands, we are holding AAM ADMI DHARNA from 10 am to 1 pm at Rajghat on Sunday October 09, 2011. We therefore request you to kindly take immediate steps to do justice to the children of this country.
With regards,
Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
National President, AIPA
M-09811101923
Agarwal Bhawan G.T. Road
Tis Hazari, Delhi-110054 (India)
Ph.- 09811101923, 09717278279
07.10.2011
To
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
7, Race Course Road,
New Delhi-110001
Sub: - NEED OF THE HOUR: a Central Law to check arbitrary fee hike in unaided private schools and Up-grading all Govt. schools to the minimum
level of Central Schools
My Dear Respected Prime Minister,
We have the honor to bring to your kind notice that the common people in this country is unable to obtain quality school education for their wards, because on the one hand, government schools by and large lack basic physical and academic infrastructure and suffer from mismanagement resulting in inferior quality of education; on the other hand, when they turn to unaided private schools offering better quality they are mercilessly exploited through the imposition of arbitrary, unjust and exorbitant fees etc. In other words, the common man is a victim of a situation created by the State.
It is submitted that the Apex Court has time and again affirmed that capitation fee, exorbitant fees, profiteering, commercialization of education and exploitation of parents/students by the unaided private schools are not permissible in law and that the Government, not only has the powers, but also the duty to regulate fees and other charges in these schools to prevent commercialization of education. However, in the absence of a legal framework at the national level, which can control and regulate the unaided private schools in the matter of fees and other charges, the affirmation of the Apex Court remains a pious wish.
Among the states, the only exception is the Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009 (In short, Tamil Nadu Act, 2009) but it is limited to the State of Tamil Nadu.
The parents and the students all over the country have been agitating against the Governments’ failure to curb commercialization of education in unaided private schools. The need of the hour is to have a central law to regulate fees and other charges in these unaided private schools all over the country, may be, on the lines of the Tamil Nadu Act, 2009.
It is submitted that after the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order of 11.05.2010 dismissing Special Leave Petitions of several Unaided Private Schools of the State of Tamil Nadu challenging the Madras High Court Judgment of 09.04.2010 upholding the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009 and The Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Rules, 2009, the Central Government should have brought a national law immediately on the lines of Tamil Nadu Act, 2009 to protect the hapless parents and students from such exploitation. However, the Central Government has not done any thing so far in this regard.
All India Parents Association (AIPA) has since long been demanding a Central Law to deal with the issue of commercialization in unaided private school.
Secondly, the standard of education in state government schools all over the country is, by and large, of inferior quality with the exceptions of Central Schools, such as the KVS, Navodaya Schools, Sainik Schools etc. The expenditure per child in ordinary government school is extremely low in comparison to what is spent in Central Schools. Lack of physical and academic infrastructure is a common feature in the ordinary government-run schools.
Poor administration and management ensures that no education worth the name takes place in these schools. It is interesting to note, that even the teachers in these schools, do not send their own children to these schools as they are convinced that these schools are inferior.
The prevailing discriminatory system of public education goes contrary to the constitutional philosophy of equality, social justice and right to good quality education. There is urgent need to undo this discriminatory system of public education system. The only solution is that all government-run schools all over the country should be upgraded to the minimum level of Central Schools.
In order of highlight our aforementioned demands, we are holding AAM ADMI DHARNA from 10 am to 1 pm at Rajghat on Sunday October 09, 2011. We therefore request you to kindly take immediate steps to do justice to the children of this country.
With regards,
Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
National President, AIPA
M-09811101923
AIPA INVITES YOU TO AAM ADMI DHARNA ON 09/10/11 AT RAJGHAT
All India Parents Association (AIPA)
The AIPA is organizing an ‘Aam Aadmi Dharna’ to highlight the
need for reform in School Education System
The Dharna will be held at RAJGHAT on October 09, 2011 from
10.00 AM to 1.00 PM, to demand:
1. Removal of disparities between various Government Schools and up-gradation of All
Government run schools all over the country to the minimum level of Kendriya
Vidyalayas (Central Schools).
2. Enactment of a Central Law to regulate the fees and other charges in unaided private
schools all over the country.
3. Resolution by the State Assemblies in support of the above issues.
4. Initiation of criminal proceedings against the erring private school managements
having been indicted by the CAG in its recent report in regard to 25 unaided private
schools of Delhi.
What AIPA strives to Achieve
The AIPA and Private schools both realize that power of private schools is derived from poor
conditions in the Government schools. Falling standards in government schools push people
towards private schools. In this kind of scenario on one hand where Private schools know that
parents have no other choice, therefore they can exploit them. On the other hand, AIPA
believes that salvation of children in all types of schools depends on improving government
schools, and bringing about greater equity in quality of all categories of schools.
The objective of All India Parents Association (AIPA) is loud and clear - to work for the
realization of the constitutional philosophy of equality, social justice and good quality
education
About AIPA
All India Parents Association (AIPA) was formed out of the conviction that all children
whether in Government schools or private schools, have a right to good education in
environments where their rights are protected. If that does not happen, then parents who have
entrusted their children to the system in good faith, can and should come together to support
one another in ensuring a caring and responsive educational system. Wherever children’s and
parents’ voices are heard, schools systems improve.
The Beginnings
In 1997, the unaided recognized private schools in Delhi on the pretext of Fifth Pay
Commission recommendations increased fees from 40% to 400% which shocked the middle
class whose wards were studying in these schools. For the first time in the history of India,
the middle class came together and raised their voice against the arbitrary fee hike by the
private schools. Consequently, an organization namely Delhi Abhivahak Mahasangh came
into existence which took forward the case of the parents against their exploitation at the
hands of the private schools. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed through Advocate
Ashok Agarwal (National President AIPA) in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court highlighting the
exorbitant, arbitrary and unjust fee hike by the private schools resulting in violation of the
Right to Education of the children. The Hon’ble High Court in its Judgment dated 30.10.1999
rejected the arguments of the private schools and laid down parameters for determining
justified fees.
During this case, it was strongly felt that one of the major cause of exploitation of the hapless
parents by the private schools is that the standard of education in the Government schools has
gone down tremendously and the exploitation at the hands of the private schools cannot be
checked unless the standards of education in Government schools is improved to a
satisfactory level.
The Achievements
Therefore in 1997 itself, another PIL highlighting the absence of basic amenities in the
Government and Municipal schools in Delhi was filed in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. This
petition was not only entertained but the Orders passed therein were monitored for more than
10 years by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. Thereafter many other PILs were filed in the
Hon’ble Delhi High Court that resulted in to Regulation of Nursery Admission process,
Admissions of EWS students in to the schools which have taken land on concessional rates
from Government, Admission of Disable/ differently abled Students, Appointment of special
teachers schools, Infrastructural facilities for Disable/ differently abled Students and Filling
of vacancies of Teachers in Government/MCD Schools.
In 2008, once again the private schools not only in Delhi but all over the country increased
fees arbitrarily on the pretext of Sixth Pay Commission. This time it had given rise to an
agitation by the parents not only in Delhi but all over the country. The Delhi Government
issued an order allowing unaided private schools to increase fee without first scrutinizing
their accounts. Again a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed through Advocate Ashok
Agarwal in 2009 in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court challenging the Delhi Governments
arbitrary order. The Hon’ble High Court in its order dated 12-08-2011 upheld the contentions
of the Parents and constituted a committee to audit the accounts of all the unaided private
schools to see the justification of any Fee Hike. As a result of this PIL the Comptroller
Auditor General (CAG) for the first time exercised its statutory duty and audited the accounts
of 25 unaided private schools in Delhi and in its report indicted 23 out of 25 schools for gross
financial malpractices. With this rise of parents’ voices at an all India Level, the All India
Parents Association came into being. Since then, the AIPA has undertaken several Dharnas,
Rallies, Meetings, Seminars, etc. to highlight the issues relating to the Right to Education of
all children.
How you can Help
The AIPA strongly feels that parents, students and teachers must unite together to achieve the
ultimate goal of free and compulsory school education of good quality for all children.
While holding the Aam Aadmi Dharna at RAJGHAT on 9th October, 2011 between 10.00
AM to 1.00 PM, The AIPA also invites people at large and parents particularly to hold
corresponding Dharnas in front of the State Assemblies on the same date and time to
demand resolution from the Assemblies in support of the aforementioned issues and to
send the same to the Central Government.
All India Parents Association (AIPA)
Agarwal Bhawan, G. T. Karnal Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi‐110 054
9811101923, 9810133325
AIPA link on FACEBOOK is given below. Please click Like to join AIPA.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001351771958#!/pages/All-India-Parents-Association-AIPA/149625658466502
The AIPA is organizing an ‘Aam Aadmi Dharna’ to highlight the
need for reform in School Education System
The Dharna will be held at RAJGHAT on October 09, 2011 from
10.00 AM to 1.00 PM, to demand:
1. Removal of disparities between various Government Schools and up-gradation of All
Government run schools all over the country to the minimum level of Kendriya
Vidyalayas (Central Schools).
2. Enactment of a Central Law to regulate the fees and other charges in unaided private
schools all over the country.
3. Resolution by the State Assemblies in support of the above issues.
4. Initiation of criminal proceedings against the erring private school managements
having been indicted by the CAG in its recent report in regard to 25 unaided private
schools of Delhi.
What AIPA strives to Achieve
The AIPA and Private schools both realize that power of private schools is derived from poor
conditions in the Government schools. Falling standards in government schools push people
towards private schools. In this kind of scenario on one hand where Private schools know that
parents have no other choice, therefore they can exploit them. On the other hand, AIPA
believes that salvation of children in all types of schools depends on improving government
schools, and bringing about greater equity in quality of all categories of schools.
The objective of All India Parents Association (AIPA) is loud and clear - to work for the
realization of the constitutional philosophy of equality, social justice and good quality
education
About AIPA
All India Parents Association (AIPA) was formed out of the conviction that all children
whether in Government schools or private schools, have a right to good education in
environments where their rights are protected. If that does not happen, then parents who have
entrusted their children to the system in good faith, can and should come together to support
one another in ensuring a caring and responsive educational system. Wherever children’s and
parents’ voices are heard, schools systems improve.
The Beginnings
In 1997, the unaided recognized private schools in Delhi on the pretext of Fifth Pay
Commission recommendations increased fees from 40% to 400% which shocked the middle
class whose wards were studying in these schools. For the first time in the history of India,
the middle class came together and raised their voice against the arbitrary fee hike by the
private schools. Consequently, an organization namely Delhi Abhivahak Mahasangh came
into existence which took forward the case of the parents against their exploitation at the
hands of the private schools. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed through Advocate
Ashok Agarwal (National President AIPA) in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court highlighting the
exorbitant, arbitrary and unjust fee hike by the private schools resulting in violation of the
Right to Education of the children. The Hon’ble High Court in its Judgment dated 30.10.1999
rejected the arguments of the private schools and laid down parameters for determining
justified fees.
During this case, it was strongly felt that one of the major cause of exploitation of the hapless
parents by the private schools is that the standard of education in the Government schools has
gone down tremendously and the exploitation at the hands of the private schools cannot be
checked unless the standards of education in Government schools is improved to a
satisfactory level.
The Achievements
Therefore in 1997 itself, another PIL highlighting the absence of basic amenities in the
Government and Municipal schools in Delhi was filed in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. This
petition was not only entertained but the Orders passed therein were monitored for more than
10 years by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. Thereafter many other PILs were filed in the
Hon’ble Delhi High Court that resulted in to Regulation of Nursery Admission process,
Admissions of EWS students in to the schools which have taken land on concessional rates
from Government, Admission of Disable/ differently abled Students, Appointment of special
teachers schools, Infrastructural facilities for Disable/ differently abled Students and Filling
of vacancies of Teachers in Government/MCD Schools.
In 2008, once again the private schools not only in Delhi but all over the country increased
fees arbitrarily on the pretext of Sixth Pay Commission. This time it had given rise to an
agitation by the parents not only in Delhi but all over the country. The Delhi Government
issued an order allowing unaided private schools to increase fee without first scrutinizing
their accounts. Again a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed through Advocate Ashok
Agarwal in 2009 in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court challenging the Delhi Governments
arbitrary order. The Hon’ble High Court in its order dated 12-08-2011 upheld the contentions
of the Parents and constituted a committee to audit the accounts of all the unaided private
schools to see the justification of any Fee Hike. As a result of this PIL the Comptroller
Auditor General (CAG) for the first time exercised its statutory duty and audited the accounts
of 25 unaided private schools in Delhi and in its report indicted 23 out of 25 schools for gross
financial malpractices. With this rise of parents’ voices at an all India Level, the All India
Parents Association came into being. Since then, the AIPA has undertaken several Dharnas,
Rallies, Meetings, Seminars, etc. to highlight the issues relating to the Right to Education of
all children.
How you can Help
The AIPA strongly feels that parents, students and teachers must unite together to achieve the
ultimate goal of free and compulsory school education of good quality for all children.
While holding the Aam Aadmi Dharna at RAJGHAT on 9th October, 2011 between 10.00
AM to 1.00 PM, The AIPA also invites people at large and parents particularly to hold
corresponding Dharnas in front of the State Assemblies on the same date and time to
demand resolution from the Assemblies in support of the aforementioned issues and to
send the same to the Central Government.
All India Parents Association (AIPA)
Agarwal Bhawan, G. T. Karnal Road, Tis Hazari, Delhi‐110 054
9811101923, 9810133325
AIPA link on FACEBOOK is given below. Please click Like to join AIPA.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001351771958#!/pages/All-India-Parents-Association-AIPA/149625658466502
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