Missionary schools oppose govt's move to regulate fees
Christian missionary schools in Rajasthan on Tuesday demanded the state government not to bring the institutions under the ambit of Rajasthan School Act.

The Society of Catholic Education Institution, a body of Catholic schools,in a meeting here discussed the strategy to oppose the state government's move to bring missionary schools under the Rajasthan School Act 2013 (Fees Regulation) and called it a violation of constitutional provisions that safeguard minority institutes.

"In spite of protection by the Indian Constitution by way of Article 30, missionary institutions were being illegally brought under the act by the government even though fee of these institutions was most reasonable," said Oswald Lewis, President of the society.

He said that minority educational institutions have a right to establish and administer their institute which include determination of fee and imparting education in their own way.

“But the government wants the institution to cover under the act and we are against it,” Lewis told a press conference here today.

Addressing the press conference, Vice Principal of St Xavier's school, C K Punoose said "the fee structure of missionary schoolwas already minimal and going below the existing fee structure would affect the quality of education,” Supporting Punoose, Principal of St Angela Sophia School, Helen said that institutions having a century old presence were providing free education to poor, weaker, financially deprived segment of society in addition to imparting quality education for general public at large at a minimum breakeven price.

"Approximately 75-80 per cent collection of annual fee is distributed to the teachers and the staff receives increment at the beginning of the academic session and DA is given as per government rules time to time,"she said.

According to the Act, a fee committee headed by retired high court judge will decide the fees of private schoolon the basis of facilities and quality of education they are offering.