Plea to protect rights of private school students

 Hyderabad: Alleging that the Prof Tirupati Rao Committee has benefited private school managements by giving its report in their favour, the Child Rights Protection Forum (CRPF) on Tuesday demanded that the government enact a legislation to protect the rights of students in private schools.

Addressing a press conference along with the parents of students of private schools here, the forum secretary D Prakash said the parents had many hopes on the Tirupati Rao Committee, but it had benefitted the private school managements. Earlier there was a rule that the school managements could enhance fee after three years, but the committee had recommended 10 per cent enhancement every year, he said. 

He said 54 per cent of the children were studying in private schools and only 46 per cent were studying in government schools. “When Rs 12,000 crore is going to the school managements from the parents, the government has the responsibility to enact a law to control the private schools,” said Prakash.

Prakash alleged that there was a liquor policy but no education policy by the government. He said that the private school managements would not listen to GOs and orders. They would listen only through legislation, he added. He said that apart from legislation, the government should form an autonomous Education Commission, which can monitor the educational institutions and to preserve the rights of the children. 

He also wanted the government to form committees in every school with parents and local public representatives and also impose ban on the sale of books, uniforms and other materials in schools. CRPF Hyderabad secretary and a parent N Prasad Goud said that the school managements were forcing the parents to buy books and shoes from the school premises.