Thiruvananthapuram: The Confederation of Sahodayas and the CBSE regional office are on a collision course over the decision of the CBSE office banning sahodayas from collecting money from various schools and students. The Sahodayas have filed a case in the high court against the regional officer over the circular issued on the issue. CBSE regional officer Tarun Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that various Sahodayas and the Confederation were collecting money from various schools and students on one pretext or another.
The CBSE regional office has received a large number of verbal complaints and telephone calls on the issue. Following this an inquiry was ordered against the Sahodaya Confederation. The State Government has also banned collection of Examination and Scholarship fee from children. The CBSE rules did not allow using school premises for commercial activities, said Mr Kumar.
The issue was not restricted to the conduct of Scholarship Examination but also selling the books of scholarship in the school premises itself. If the Confederation was allowed to collect money from children for one cause or the other, it would lead to a disadvantageous situation for poor children, said Mr Kumar. “We will ensure that the rights of children are not affected. If any agency wants to grant a scholarship to CBSE students without collecting a fee from students they are welcome,” said Mr Kumar. He added, “The Confederation of Sahodayas is not approved by the CBSE. Use of CBSE logo or its name or use of CSBE school premises for various activities of the Confederation of Sahodayas is not approved by the CBSE.
As per Rule 14- (B) of the affiliation bylaw, the school shall not use its building and infrastructure for any commercial activity. Rule 13 (10) of the bylaw says that the board may conduct an audit of the funds of the school as and when it thinks it necessary to ensure that: The funds/fee collected by the school authorities are not diverted for any purpose other than furthering education. As per Rule 7.3 of Affiliation byelaws of the Board, the channelling of funds by the Management to persons /enterprise other than for furthering education in school will contravene the rules governing the affiliation and will call for appropriate action by the Board.
