Chennai: At least 700 applications for fee revision from private matriculation schools are yet to be processed, as the committee to fix the rate has remained headless for more than 40 days.While the tenure of the previous Tamil Nadu Fee Determination Committee chairperson Justice(retd) R Balasubramaniam ended on Jun 30 this year, the govt is yet to name his successor. Being the only nodal body that fixes fees for private self-financed matriculation schools in the state for three academic years at a stretch, schools that have applied in Jun are left in the lurch.“More than a 1,000 fee fixation applications that came before June this year have been cleared. But at least 700 applications came after the said date, and without the chairperson’s signature, they cannot be processed. Schools have been informed of the delay,” said I Angelo, special officer of the committee.While the committee had extended the last date to apply for fee revision to June 15 this year, staff said several applications that came much later were also accepted. “Not many schools adhere to the last date rule. There are always applications, extending well until the end of the year. Additionally, there are complaints pertaining to excess fee collection, all of which go through the chairperson. A speedy appointment will help,” an official at the committee said.“More than a 1,000 schools have already submitted proposals, which are pending due to a needless delay. The school education minister had recently assured of changes in the committee structure. But the education department is not bothered to make an appointment even after 45 days have passed,” M Arumgam, president, Federation of Private Schools Association, said.“The ultimate beneficiary are the schools. With no head to oversee complaints of excess fee collection and fix the fee, schools can run amok and increase the fee by themselves. The govt must expedite appointment,” said S Arumainathan, president, TN Students’ Parents Welfare Association.
