Pay Panel recommends big salary hike for teachers

TO SIR, WITH LOVE? Students' parents are worried they may have to pay higher fees.

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New Delhi: The grossly underpaid teacher in Capital’s private schools are delighted, for the Sixth Pay Commission has recommended up to 70 per cent salary hike for them.

But while this is good news for the teachers, students’ parents are worried that the move may require them to pay higher school fees.

The schools have asked for a 50 per cent hike for their teachers which means that a parent who pays an annual fee of Rs 40,000 may now have to shell out Rs 20,000 more.

But the schools say they have no other option.

"I do feel there is a need to increase the salaries. The teaching faculty is grossly underpaid. We will need to increase the fees. But how would the private schools get the money to increase the salaries by 50 per cent,” says Principal, Tagore International School, Madhulika Sen.

The Government has set up a committee to look into the matter and submit a report within a month.

The Government is clear that no school will be allowed to hike the fees, unless the internal fund of the private school has been exhausted.

“The fee hike would vary for different schools. We will assess the financial position of the schools and decide accordingly,” says Education Minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely.

Under the Delhi School Education Act of 1973, even privately run schools need to get the Government’s nod before they can raise tuition fees.

But teachers who got their last big increment way back in 1997 are hoping that they finally get their dues this time.