BENGALURU: Alleging that some private schools in the city are demanding exorbitant amounts as donations and extra fee for uniforms and books, groups of parents and students protested in front of Krishna, the chief minister’s official residence, on Saturday.
They said that managements demand up to Rs 80,000 as donation, Rs 10,000 for books and Rs 5,000 for uniforms and deny entry to students who fail to pay. They submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy after the protest.
“The CM told us that he will' ensure students are allowed to enter schools and to resolve the issue by Monday evening. He said that concerned Deputy Directors of Public Instruction and Block Education Officers will oversee response from school authorities,” said Annegowda, one of the protesters.
Karnataka Students’ Parents’ Association president V.P.J. Ravi alleged that Bengaluru North DDPI Abdul Wajid Khaji was allowing private managements to collect such hefty amounts. “Khaji has been with the managements for the past two years and has taken no action against such schools. He and his BEOs have told protesting parents that if they cannot afford the fee, they should get their children admitted in other schools,” he said.
The protesters listed East West Academy (Rajajinagar), Kiran High School (Hegganahalli), Sri Chaitanya Techno School (Seshadripuram and Ramamurthy Nagar) and Sri Krishna International School (Banashankari) as the guilty institutions. The last four schools fall under the purview of Bengaluru North DDPI, but he could not be reached for clarification. “We have received complaints from different sources against officials of the North section over the last few months. It is sad that these officers are not taking the people’s side,” said an education department official on condition of anonymity.
However, Bengaluru South DDPI Ashwath Narayan Gowda was proactive. Soon after the issue was brought to his notice, he said that necessary action will be taken, and offered to seek clarification from the authorities of Sri Krishna International School under his jurisdiction.
