A government-operated ‘School of Eminence’ in Punjab, part of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) initiative to enhance access to high-quality education, is currently embroiled in serious allegations regarding fee violations. Reports indicate that the institution is charging students significantly more than the officially mandated fee structure.
Parents of students enrolled at the School of Eminence in Nawanshahr, located in the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, have raised concerns about the collection of Rs 5,000 from those applying for admission to Class 11. This amount starkly contrasts with the annual fee of approximately Rs 876 set for government schools. This discrepancy has alarmed families, many of whom feel pressured to comply with the fee demands to secure their children’s admission. Furthermore, parents have asserted that these fees are collected without providing proper receipts at the time of enrollment.
The school’s principal, Sarabjeet Singh, has not responded to multiple requests for a statement regarding the allegations.
The situation came to public attention when Sanjiv Bhalla, a resident of Saroya village, formally raised the issue with relevant authorities on Monday. In his complaint directed to Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and senior officials in the education sector, Bhalla recounted his experience in attempting to enroll his daughter in Class 11. He noted that after successfully passing the entrance examination, his family was unexpectedly asked to pay Rs 5,000 to finalize her admission.
Upon discovering the official fee guidelines, Bhalla protested and requested a receipt. Subsequently, most of the fee was returned, but the admission was initially revoked. He claimed that the school later reversed its decision and allowed his daughter to enroll under specific concession categories, despite her not meeting the criteria for those categories.
Bhalla’s complaint aims to shed light on a broader issue impacting numerous families and calls for accountability from the principal. He has also requested a thorough investigation into the school’s operations to prevent such practices from continuing.
Officials from the Education Department have not yet provided a formal response to the allegations. District Education Officer Anita Sharma from Nawanshahr stated she was not aware of the situation when approached for comments.
Sources indicate that several parents have similar concerns but are hesitant to come forward due to fears about their children’s educational prospects.
This controversy has reignited discussions regarding previous complaints about the institution. MLA Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi had previously raised the issue of alleged excessive fees in the state Assembly, but no significant action was taken at that time. Critics now highlight that the issue remains unresolved, despite having been addressed at the legislative level.
Even representatives from the AAP have acknowledged the gravity of the allegations. Lalit Mohan Pathak, the AAP halqa in-charge, labeled the practice of charging excessive fees as “incorrect,” yet there has been no substantial administrative response to date.
This incident raises significant concerns about the effectiveness of the state’s ‘Schools of Eminence’ program, which was designed to offer quality education at a minimal cost. Allegations of unauthorized fee collections could erode public confidence in this initiative, particularly among economically disadvantaged families, who are the primary intended beneficiaries.
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