The District Education Officer (DEO) has issued another notice to Ahmedabad International School (AIS) regarding its Primary Years Programme (PYP) Enrichment Program and also cautioned of severe consequences if the program is not immediately terminated.
Earlier, DEO issued AIS a notice saying it should stop its PYP or ‘enrichment programme’ with immediate effect. The DEO has also cautioned the school against using the No Objection Certificate (NOC) granted for affiliation with a board other than the Gujarat Board.
Parents have expressed strong objections to AIS’s PYP enrichment programme. Complaints have mostly focused on the program’s financial strain on families, as well as charges of discrimination against children who did not enroll in the PYP programme.
In response to the parental concerns, the school was instructed to halt the program. Despite these instructions, AIS has continued to implement the program, disregarding the DEO’s office directives.
Also Read: https://www.vibesofindia.com/education-officer-asks-ais-to-stop-discriminatory-programme/
Background
Two months ago, parents of those studying at Ahmedabad International School (AIS) staged a protest saying the City District Education Officer (DEO) has not been taking their complaints against AIS and other Ahmedabad schools seriously.
In response to the parents’ concerns, On June 7, the parents reached out to Kuber Dindor, the minister for tribal development and education, to intervene. Subsequently, Dindor directed the Office of Schools’ Director to launch an investigation headed by the DEO and take appropriate action.
The PYP enrichment program has significantly increased the financial burden on parents. Parents say that under the programme, the school introduced nine optional subjects and charged Rs. 1.35 lakh excluding GST per year per student. The parents allege that the fees for the enrichment program surpass the annual tuition fees. To investigate the parents’ allegations, the DEO formed a three-member committee.
Also Read: https://www.vibesofindia.com/pay-or-pay-the-price-parents-cry-foul-over-aiss-coercive-fee-tactics/
The Notice
The DEO notice to the school said that levying GST was akin to commercial endeavour, which education institutes were not allowed to do so. The notice also took note of the fact that those students who do not opt for the PYP programme were made to wait till the day’s activities were over.
District Education Officer Rohit Chaudhary said in the notice, “Schools cannot coerce any student into participating in such activities, and any GST collected must be refunded.” He said in the notice that any school facing similar allegations will face action.
AIS could be penalised or worse, its NOC could be revoked, officials in the Education Department said.
The school officials were not available for comment but for now, it seems the school has dug in its heels, as it has not yet revoked the PYP programme.
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