Controversy Erupts Over Private School Pricing as Parents Demand Refunds – Latest News
Private School Fee Increases – Are They Legal?
With the arrival of the new year, many private schools have determined new fee schedules, resulting in a significant increase in payments. These fee hikes have led to widespread complaints from parents, who are being asked to pay for extra services such as food, travel, stationery, and clothing.
According to Aydın Ağaoğlu, President of the Consumer Confederation, some schools are unlawfully pressuring parents to accept additional service fees, informing them that if they do not agree, their child’s registration will not be renewed. As a result, private school fees have skyrocketed, exceeding 500 thousand TL due to exorbitant rate increases.
Parents, however, have legal recourse. Under Article 7 of the Consumer Protection Law, they have the right to demand a refund for any services or products they did not order, even if it was used, for up to 10 years. This includes meals, books, and studies.
In addition to meals, private schools may charge fees for other services such as breakfast, stationery, books, etc. It is crucial for parents to know that students are not obligated to pay for these services as per the Ministry of National Education Regulation on Private Educational Institutions.
To this end, parents should not be forced to purchase additional products or services when buying a particular item. According to the law, their silence or use of goods or services should not be interpreted as implicit acceptance.
Furthermore, if a private school fails to disclose its fee structure between the beginning of January and the end of May, the previous year’s fee will be applied for the upcoming academic year.
For this reason, parents have the right to contest these fee increases. They can seek redress at the Consumer Arbitration Committee (THH) for refunds of the extra fees paid. They can also file a complaint with the Unfair Price Evaluation Board and the Ministry of National Education to impose sanctions on these unfair pricing practices.
In conclusion, it is essential for parents to be aware of their rights and take action to challenge unjust price increases at private schools.
