Thwart Attempts to extort money from parents, says Tamil Nadu government

Chennai: In yet another strong warning to private schools including the schools affiliated to CBSE board, the state government has instructed officials to thwart any attempt by educational institutions “to extort money from parents to fund other commercial or non-educational activities.”

“If any educational agency is found misappropriating the funds of the society for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was mobilized, it will amount to mismanagement of the school and action may be initiated to appoint special officer under Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulations) Act,” director of matriculation schools S.Kannappan said in a circular. While demanding Rs 2 lakh as caution deposit, Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial (SSM) school, the school management had said it had no option but to close down the school citing the increase in administrative costs.

Quoting Tamil Nadu Recognised Private Schools (Regulation) Rules 1974, he said, “Any property endowed to the private school proposed to be closed shall be continued to be used for the educational purposes in accordance with the objects of the trust and society.” “The parents may also be informed that all such bare threats of closure of the school are meaningless. It should be ensured that the educational agencies do not indulge in sending such threats to the parents,” he instructed.

SSM school correspondent K. Santhanam was booked under various sections for making derogatory comments against the parents who protested against the demand of caution deposit and arrested.