Schools seek bus fee hike after fuel regulation

The recent decision by authorities to regulate fuel prices, reflecting global changes, has forced many schools in the country to seek approval for hike in transportation fees from the ministry of education in the middle of the academic session, reported Qatar Tribune.

Enquiries have revealed that a number of Indian schools that hire buses from private transport companies have come under pressure because the companies have started asking for a hike in rentals.

Talking to Qatar Tribune, Birla Public School (BPS) Principal AK Shrivastava said, "We hire the services of over 70 buses from different private transport companies. They’ve already started demanding a hike in rentals citing the fuel price in the country being tied to global fluctuations."

The school has no other option but to seek approval from the authorities concerned for hike in transportation fees, Shrivastava said adding that the school will increase the fees as soon as it gets the ministry's nod.

DPS Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS), another prominent Indian school in the country, has also applied for transportation fee hike to cope with the growing expenses incurred on hiring buses from private transport companies.

DPS MIS Transport Director Azim Abbas said that the school hires more than 70 buses from private companies. While many of these companies have already hiked their rentals, he said, the school is yet to raise the fees due to delay in approval by the ministry.

"We pay a rental of QR13,000 per month for a bus. With the implementation of monthly changes in fuel prices, many of the bus providers have decided to raise the rentals. Our cost on transportation has risen," Abbas said.

The school has requested the authorities concerned to give permission for raising bus fees as soon as possible, he said, adding that the request might be granted in the middle of the academic session.

Courtesy: Qatar-tribune.com