Violating norms, private schools fleece students in East Godavari

Kakinada: Private schools started fleecing parents of children for upper classes. Already some schools have given the last date for payment of tuition fees, though they have not been reopened. Now, the last date has been extended up to June 30. Unless they pay their first term fees, they cannot take Transfer Certificate from schools for their ward. The school managements have not heeded to government's instructions that not to collect fees or hike the fees than the previous academic year's fees.

The Education Department has issued clear instructions to school managements not to collect any fees from students for upper classes until the schools are reopened. However, many schools, especially semi-corporate schools and some of the CBSE schools are exerting a lot of pressure on parents for fees payment.

For example, in Rajahmundry, Sri Gowthami School is collecting more than Rs 42,000 from Class VII students and additional fees for IIT foundation courses. According to sources, some parents demanded the school management how the parents would pay the fees, unless the classes were restarted.

According to school management "unless you pay the fees, Transfer Certificate will not be given to your ward." Though it was a lockdown period and closed the school, their students are being taken online classes and the school should pay salaries to those teachers. But, the parents said that many of them don't have smart phones and their wards could not get classes and some due to network problems.

Another parent said neither the students nor the parents asked the management to organise the online classes during the lockdown period due to coronavirus scare. How can schools demand payment of fees? However, Sri Gowthami School Correspondent Ravikumar has not shown his willingness to give clarification on collecting fee structure in his school.

Akshara School, a CBSE based education school, run by Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (NFCL) has already issued notices to parents for fees.

According to sources, when the NFCL established in Kakinada, the management has given a promise to people that they would provide education free of cost to the children. But, now, the school is one of the highest fees collection education institutions in the district by hiking fees structure frequently, it is alleged. T S N Sridhar, a Akshara school parent told The Hans India, due to lack of fee regulating committee, the school management hikes fee structure frequently.

According to CBSE norms, the fees structure should be displayed in their websites. But, all norms have been violated by the school management.

Some people's organisations are preparing to approach the court on fees. The parents are raising their voices in special whatsapp group in protesting against school management's attitude. The parents appealed to Education Department and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to stop collection of fees by the college managements and take steps for reducing fees structure.

District Education Officer S Abraham made it clear that the government would take stringent steps if the private schools collect fees from students, unless the schools are not reopened. He said the department has issued clear instructions to all institutions in the district not to hike the fees than previous academic years and also not to collect fees for current academic year.