The tussle between parents and schools over fee hike has intensified, especially in view of the new academic year after the physical reopening of schools. In some schools, there has been a 100 per cent hike in bus fees, and parents alleged that the schools are trying to make up for the losses incurred over the past two years due to the pandemic-induced lockdown. 

One of the schools which have come under the scanner recently is Matushree Kashiben Vrajlal Valla (MKVV) International School in Borivli. Many parents were in for a shock when earlier this month they were greeted with a new fee structure, which increased by as much as 100 per cent for many. “The total fee structure is different for different parents as the bus fee, included in the structure, varies. We can understand if they hike the fees by 10 or 15 per cent, but this is outrageous. As per the circular, the school fee was Rs 38,000, but on the portal it was Rs 69,000 for me. When I asked, I was told that the remaining amount is the bus fee. How can bus fees jump from Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000 to Rs 31,000? Is the school recovering their losses by extorting from the parents?” asked one parent.