Andhra Pradesh government yet to take action on greedy' private schools
Nellore: Even as private schools, especially corporate schools are fleecing parents in the name of building development fund, fees, stationary, school functions etc, the state government is turning a blind eye to the issue. Term fees is a whopping Rs 45,000 for UKG and Rs 47,000 for Class I and Rs 2,000 more for books to each class from there onwards in the popular schools in Nellore city. The parent has to pay Rs 2,000 for notebooks alone, even for UKG, and this is also incremental by Rs 500 for each class up to III standard. In addition to this, some corporate schools have been demanding building fee of Rs 50,000 for new admissions, except for UKG, though they have already got spacious buildings.
A housewife and mother of two tiny tots, P. Vidya of Nellore, alleged that one of the well-developed school operating in posh Magunta Layout in Nellore sought Rs 15,000 as development fee for fresh admissions.The other items include Rs 5,000 for stationary, Rs 4,000 for activities such as annual day, sports etc. apart from term fee of Rs 46,000 for UKG and Rs 48,000 for Class I. Lamenting over the situation, she alleged that good education seems to be beyond the reach of even upper middle class family.
Another parent and businessman T. Mukund alleged schools charging heavily are usually offer skating, dance and music class without any additional charge at the time of admission, but suspend all the extra-curricular activities after two months under some pretext or other. He said schools offering CBSE syllabus have been demanding the parents of UKG and first standard kids anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 towards term fee, apart from additional cash towards notebooks after the CBSE imposed a ban on selling textbooks. What irks the parents is the practice of these scho-ols hiring unqualified teachers and frequent change of teaching staff even while charging heavily.
“It takes some time for the teachers to understand the psychology of the students besides their strengths and weaknesses and guide them. Unfortunately, the teachers are being transferred exactly when students start feeling comfortable with them,” parent Subba Reddy of Nellore said pointing to the complaint from his children. Reacting to a question on exorbitant fees and other demands by the schools, District Education Officer M. Ramalingam said the Education department does not have any control over the fees, as per a government order Ms. No. 1 of April 1, 1994.
He said governing bodies of the schools fix the fee structure, salaries to the teachers and other staff. The body will have members from the management and teachers as well as mother of one of the students. According to Mr. Ramalingam, only one mother is nominated by them and that too from the list sent by the school. The condition is that 50 per cent of the income should go to teacher’s wages and the balance to lab, library, management expenditure and infrastructure. The school sends an audit report once in a year, but the Education department cannot raise any questions on it.
