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Government Schools Charged Higher Fee

Government Schools Charged Higher Fee

New Delhi: Parents of the students in more than one lakh government schools in the country will have to pay more for the education of their kids, if the Planning Commission has its say.

After the controversial suggestion of a fee hike in higher education sector, the Planning Commission has now come out with another proposal to encourage charging some fees even in public schools to enable the management to raise resources for quality improvement.

Serious differences were cropped up between the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development and the Planning Commission in their meeting on education sector which was held in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Union Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh during the meeting advocated that charging of fees in government secondary schools might not be desirable in view of the goal of universalisation and its enormous positive externality of education in the secondary stage.

The Planning Commission said that charging some fees even in public schools should be accompanied by generous provision of scholarships to those who cannot afford such fees, particularly the girl students who are at the risk of dropping out and entering early marriage.

The Commission stressed the need to carry out long-pending institutional reforms in school managements to ensure accountability at all levels. However, the decision was left to the Union Ministry.

Free Uniforms: The Planning Commission also proposed for the supply of free uniforms, bicycles, textbooks and footwear to the students belonging to SCs, STs, minorities and OBCs during the 11th Five Year Plan in order to bridge social gap in secondary education.

It also suggested upgradation of elementary schools to secondary schools in geographic concentration areas of relevant social groups.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development has plans to open 1000 new Kendriya Vidyalayas and 700 new Jawahar Navodya Vidyalayas in backward districts and rural areas.

The Government's plans to set up 10,000 new vocational schools was mentioned in the Prime Minister's Independence Day speech.

The Planning Commission also laid emphasis on public-private partnerships to leverage of private investment in opening new schools.

At present, 60 percent of schools are under private management.

The Planning Commission fixed the target to raise the gross enrolment rate in Class IX and X from 51.7 percent to 75 percent by 2011-12.

Government Schools Charged Higher Fee

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