Mumbai: Panel formed to investigate fee irregularities at Borivali’s Witty School

With no official update ahead of the winter break, some parents are withholding fee payments. Pic/NIMESH DAVE

Following parent complaints and objections raised by local authorities, a three-member committee has been constituted to probe allegations against Witty (International and World) School in Borivali. The panel, comprising two education inspectors and one sub-inspector, with clerical assistance, was formed on December 23 and has been asked to submit its report within seven days.

The move comes amid allegations of fee irregularities levelled by parents. As mid-day reported on December 22, parents alleged that students in the same classroom were being charged different fees. They also claimed that the school imposed steep and arbitrary fee hikes when students moved from pre-primary to primary sections, with increases ranging from 40 per cent to 100 per cent.

Following complaints, Borivali MLA Sanjay Upadhyay wrote to the Chief Minister, citing alleged violations of the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Fees Regulation) Act, prompting the inquiry. "With the winter break beginning on December 24, the school will remain shut for nearly 10 days. We have not received any official update yet, and some parents have decided not to pay fees until there is clarity," a parent of a pre-primary student told mid-day. An education department official said the committee may seek an extension to submit its report due to the ongoing school holidays.