AP govt forms school education regulatory commission to study fee structure

Amaravati: AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission is a historic bill because, in front of us, the private schools are squeezing parents in the name of fees, but on one dares to question it.

We have witnessed that the management persons of those big schools and colleges were the ministers in the earlier government. In those situations, how can they control schools fees? he questioned.

The CM said that regarding education, there is a law in the country. Neither schools nor colleges are not run for profit. According to the rules, education is considered to be a part of public service, he said.

If the LKG, UKG, first-class fees are touching around Rs 63,000 to Rs 1 lakh, really there is nowhere that our children can study. The government schools have decreased according to a plan, and 25% seats in every private school should be given free. Less amount of fees should be charged, and those fees should be paid by the government, he said.

In the last five years, not a single school has implemented the Right to Education Act. In this context, the school fees were increased without any control, and the entire system got deteriorated.

Due to such policies, public schools have been reduced over the past five years. Even the mid-day meal arrears in schools are not paid for 6 to 8 months, and textbooks were also not given on time. During the Praja Sankalpa Yatra, I have seen the situations where the books were not given until September and October.

On the other side, the fees have raised in private schools. But no one has cared about the issue, and finally, we have seen the private schools looting in the name of education in the state.

CM YS Jagan said that the government has initiated actions to bring change in the education system and as a right to education for the poor and middle-class families. If we can educate our children, then they will be out of poverty tomorrow.

Education is the weapon to come out of poverty, but it got declined in the state. We have brought this bill to save the education system in the state. CM YS Jagan said.

As per the 2011 census of AP, there is 33% of the illiterate people. With this, we can understand how worst the situation in the state. Parents have the desire to educate their children, but due to lack of financial affordability, the state illiteracy rate is 33 per cent. The total illiteracy rate in the country is 26 per cent. In such background, we're bringing this bill.

Our main purpose is to bring education affordability to all. We are appointing a retired High Court Judge as the chairman of this commission along with 11 members which include academic experts.

This Commission can go to any school and monitor the admissions and teaching process. We bring schools grading, enforcement of the Right to Education Act and accrediting under the Commission limits.

The Commission also has the power not only to warn managements but can impose fines and shut down schools. Fees in private schools must come into reality.

The Commission will also conduct a study on fees structure, where children can able to study and also oversee the education and infrastructure. CM said that the government had brought this bill to bring education affordability to every middle class and poor of the state.