UP forms panel to look into issue of hefty fees by private schools

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government today said it has formed a committee of officers to look into the issue of private schools charging hefty fees.

"I have formed a committee of officers to look into the issue of hefty fees being charged by private schools. The committee will do its survey and give its report," the state's Basic Education Minister Ram Govind Chowdhury said while replying to a question in the Assembly.

The matter was raised during Question Hour by BJP member Suresh Kumar Khanna, who sought to know from the government about students who have benefited from the scheme under which private schools reserve 25 per cent seats for poor students and provide them with free education.

The members also raised concern over the issue of hefty fees being charged by private schools and requested the government to take cognisance of it.

The minister said that under the scheme, a total of 60 students have benefited in 2013-14 while the figure rose to 108 in 2014-15.

When asked whether any school had denied free education under the scheme, the minister said none of them had refused admission to poor students as they are being given Rs 450 per child by the government.