Nursery blues over fee refund
Neha Pushkarna, TNN | Feb 6, 2012, 01.44AM IST

NEW DELHI: With the first admission list out, it's time for parents to secure a seat for their child. However, many parents are in a fix as different schools are toeing different norms for fee refund, in case the admission is withdrawn.

"My son has been selected in a school that is 5 km away from our home. Therefore, we are more interested in finding him a seat at a nearby school. We are just wondering if it will be wise to book a seat in the first school and wait for the second list in the other school to come out. However, the management of the school is not coming clean on how much money will be refunded," said Anjana Bhardwaj, a parent from Vasant Kunj.

Another school, DPS Mathura Road, has specified on its website that if the child is withdrawn later, only the caution money will be refunded. "Please carry Rs 40,000 as advance which will be adjusted towards admission fee, caution money (Rs 500), tuition fee for 3 months (April-June 2012) and bus fee. Please note that in case of withdrawal or the student not joining after admission, only caution money will be refunded," states a circular posted on the school website.

This means that the school will refund only Rs 500 out of nearly Rs 40,000 paid as fee under various heads. According to the school principal, M I Hussain, such a policy is being followed to discourage students from withdrawing admission later.

"If people have applied for admission, they must have taken a conscious decision. They should think twice before paying the fee. Why should they withdraw after document verification and securing a seat?" said Hussain. "This has been our policy. However, if the directorate of education has any guideline on this, we will abide by it," he added.

According to DoE guidelines issued last year, a school can retain only the admission fee, registration fee and the tuition fee of only one month if the child withdraws within one month of the date of admission. Same guidelines are being followed this year too.(Mr Vohra Said)

"DoE guidelines on fee refund are quite clear. If a child withdraws admission before March 31, only admission fee of Rs 200 and Rs 25 as registration fee can be retained by a school," explained L V Sehgal, principal, Bal Bharati Public School, Ganga Ram Hospital Marg.