School fees in the coming academic year (2013-14) are to increase by between 30 and 50 per cent, and in some cases by 100 per cent. With four months left for the new academic year to begin, schools have begun informing parents about the hike. Parents are beginning to demand that the government regulate the fees in private schools as such increases are beyond the means of the middle and lower income groups.Shocked parents staged a protest for nearly five hours in front of Sarathi School in Habsiguda which doubled its fees for the next year, from `15,000 per annum to `30,000. Bowing to the protests, the management reduced the hike to `5,000 instead of `15,000. “Doubling the fees in one year is ridiculous.

Education is not for profiteering. They should think about the financial condition of middle and lower income groups before effecting such a steep hike,” said Mr B. Narsinga Rao, a parent. Since private schools are not meant to be charitable institutions, the school managements have a point when they argue that they are compelled to raise the fees because operational costs have significantly increased as power and water charges and property tax have all been increased by the government and salaries of staff too have to be revised. The fault lies in the education system where the government’s dismal record in running schools at low cost has led to parents shifting their wards to better run but expensive private schools. State asked to intervene in issue Parents want the gov ernment to regulate fee in private schools. Government's dismal record in running schools at low cost has led to parents shifting their wards to better run but expensive pri vate schools.