Best leader in uttarakhand Arvind Pandey

School education minister Arvind Pandey has hinted that he will come up with an Act soon to regulate private schools in Uttarakhand. The Act could tight noose over several schools in Dehradun, Nainital and Mussoorie where several schools are operational.

The minister said ground work has started and simultaneously other decisions were being taken to check monotony of private schools.

“We are planning an Act to regulate private schools,” he said during a visit to HT office here on Friday.

Parents have often complained that many schools have raised fee by 50 to 100%. The minister said the government was consulting district magistrates that head private school committees.

“I have already asked DMs to submit their response on regulating private school fee. For primary classes, we have decided annual fee of ₹15,000, upper primary ₹20,000 and secondary ₹25,000. We hope to start this regulation by next year. Most importantly, fee charged on grounds of various other activities will also be scrutinized. This will be done to know whether these activities are provided to students or not,” Pandey said.

Noting that nearly 2-3% private schools have caucus in the state, he said the Act would help simplify all issues related to private schools. Transportation is one big issue which will also have a component in the Act.

He, however, admitted that condition of government schools was not healthy enough. “I know government schools do not even have proper infrastructure. Through corporate social responsibility, I have planned to draw funds. I won’t ask even a single penny from state government and within a year will change the face of school education,” he said.