Organisations representing parents of school children and non-profit groups in the field of education held a statewide signature campaign on Saturday to protest against a report that suggests guidelines for fee hikes in private, unaided schools.

The government is yet to take a decision on whether it will accept the report.

The 21-member Kumud Bansal Committee comprising members of school managements, government representatives and parents submitted its report in October. The report recommended that unaided schools be allowed to hike their fees to earn a “reasonable surplus” of 15 per cent over their total expenses.

Some parents felt the report was biased in favour of school managements. They were upset that the panel had just three parent-members.

The All India Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations had also written to the director of education last week saying that the government reject the report and form a new statutory committee instead.

“Sources have told us that the government might be moving towards accepting the report. We have stepped up our protest as a result,” said Jayant Jain, president of the Federation.

Members of the Forum for Fairness in Education, the Forum Against the Commercialisation of Education and PTAs all over Maharashtra collected signatures that they will submit to the director of education next week.

“The high court has given the government until February 10 to decide the matter,” said Sanjay Kumar, principal secretary, school education department. “We are still accepting suggestions until December 25 and will take a decision once we receive a memorandum from the parents.”

The Bansal Committee Report is available on the Maharashtra government website. The deadline for sending in suggestions and objections is December 25.

The report is also available on the Forum’s website at www. educationforumindia. net.