Why was Vibgyor School in Vadodara Penalised Over Fee Irregularities?

Vadodara, May 30 (NationPress) - The Fee Regulation Committee (FRC) of the Vadodara Zone has levied a hefty fine of Rs 10 lakh on Vibgyor School, situated in the Bhayli region of the city, due to numerous infractions concerning fee regulations.

An FRC member indicated that the school repeatedly disregarded several FRC mandates despite consistent complaints from parents regarding inflated fees.

The official detailed that the school incurred fines of Rs 1 lakh for failing to display the FRC fee order on its notice board, Rs 1 lakh for requesting fees for two quarters when only one is permitted, Rs 3 lakh for not providing essential documents to the investigation committee appointed by the District Education Officer (DEO), and Rs 5 lakh for operating an unapproved pre-primary school within the same premises.

Despite being given three chances to defend themselves, the school management did not present a satisfactory explanation.

"This is the most substantial penalty ever imposed by the FRC in Vadodara's history," remarked the official, stressing that strict measures will be enforced against any institution violating fee regulations.

He encouraged parents to stay vigilant and report any unjustified fee charges to the FRC, reaffirming the commitment of both the committee and the government to safeguard parental rights.

This is not the first instance of regulatory action against Vibgyor School.

In March, the DEO penalised the school Rs 3 lakh, and earlier in 2024, the FRC had imposed an additional Rs 2 lakh fine for overcharging parents. The school management has since contested the latest penalty in court and has raised objections to the interim fee structure set by the FRC. For the academic year 2024-25, Vibgyor proposed fees ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.1 lakh for grades 1 to 12, while the FRC established an interim fee between Rs 85,000 and Rs 1.78 lakh.

Despite being summoned to three hearings regarding fee assessments, the school did not provide the required documentation.

The FRC intends to finalize the school's fee structure even if school representatives are absent from future hearings.

In recent years, various educational establishments across Gujarat have faced scrutiny for contravening the Gujarat Self-Financed Schools (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2017.

The FRC and DEOs have enacted stringent measures against schools found to be overcharging parents, neglecting to submit necessary documentation, or failing to comply with established procedures.

In Ahmedabad, around 75 pre-schools in both urban and rural settings are currently under investigation for levying unapproved fees without submitting the required proposals to the FRC.

These pre-schools, often operating under the same campuses or trusts as primary schools, overlooked the mandatory approval process, prompting the FRC to instruct DEOs and District Primary Education Officers (DPEOs) to inspect these institutions and gather comprehensive fee-related information. FD School in Juhapura, Ahmedabad, received a notice from the DEO for raising fees without prior FRC approval.

The school had posted the increased fee structure on its notice board despite the FRC not approving the hike. Consequently, the DEO imposed a Rs 10,000 fine for non-compliance.

Nirma Vidyavihar School in Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, faced similar repercussions when it raised annual fees by 40% without FRC consent.

The school increased fees from Rs 89,000 to Rs 1.24 lakh for the academic year 2023-24, surpassing the allowable 5 percent increase. The DEO has issued a show-cause notice, demanding a response within two days.