Action agst schools if parents stopped from carrying mobiles

 Private schools in the city have been warned of strict action by the Education Directorate if they bar parents from carrying mobile phones in school premises due to fears that they could be used to collect evidence against demands for capitation fees.

The directive has come following complaints that parents have been stopped from carrying mobile phones by the school managements fearing it could be used to collect audio-video evidence against demand of capitation fee.

"Collection of capitation fee by a school while admitting a child in a school is illegal and punishable as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009," according to a circular issued by P Lata Tara, Deputy Director Education (ACT I).

The Directorate in its order dated February 23 had directed managements of all private unaided recognised schools not to charge any capitation fee at the time of admission.

Delhi Government had also advised general public to collect evidence against demands of capitation fee by schools through audio-video recordings in such cases.

"lt has come to the notice of the department that managements of some private unaided recognised schools are not allowing parents visiting schools for admissions to enter premises with their mobiles and that their mobile phones are retained at the entry gate of the school which causes hindrance for parents to collect evidence of such malpractices," said the official.

"All the school managements of private unaided recognised schools have been directed that, parents/guardians must be allowed to carry their mobile phones within school premises failing which strict action will be taken against the defaulter schools," she said.
The RTE Act defines capitation fee as 'any kind of donation or contribution or payment other than the fee notified by the school.' Section 13(1) of the Act prohibits taking of capitation fee by the schools.