Private Schools Across AP ‘Capture’ Over 35,000 Students
Many government schools have no LKG and UKG classes. Parents thus initially admit their children into private institutions. But they face hurdles when they try to shift them to free government schools from Class 1.
KURNOOL: Even as government teachers are going door-to-door to improve enrolment in their schools, private school managements are allegedly refusing to release students whose parents wish to shift them to government institutions. This has currently left over 35,000 children across the state in a difficult situation.
Significantly, many government schools have no LKG and UKG classes. As a result, parents initially admit their children into private institutions. But they face hurdles when they try to move them to free government schools from Class 1.
As per the existing procedure, to move a student from a private to government school, the headmaster of the government school must send a formal request to the private school, along with a consent letter from parents and the student’s Aadhaar details.
However, despite thousands of such requests being sent across the state, private managements are reportedly not responding.
A primary government school teacher from Yerraguntla mandal in Kadapa district said, “On May 11, I sent requests to three private schools whose parents wanted to shift their children to the government school. Till date, there has been no response.”
In almost every mandal, between 100 and 150 students are said to be willing to join government schools. But private institutions are allegedly refusing to issue transfer certificates. Some private schools claim that students cannot be released until their fee dues are cleared. This has left poor parents helpless.
Kadapa district education officer (DEO) S. Shamshuddin said, “If a student has paid at least 50 per cent of the fee, we have instructed MEOs to intervene and ensure the school issues the transfer certificate. If the private school even then fails to comply, notices will be issued.”
Allegations of inaction are mounting against mandal education officers (MEOs). A government school headmaster from Nandyal district alleged, “The government has set a target of enrolling 3.2 lakh new students. But MEOs are not taking strict action against private schools. There appears to be a nexus between them, affecting enrolment efforts in government schools.”
Teachers are now worried about meeting enrolment targets, especially amid fears that schools with fewer than 15 students may be merged with other schools under rationalisation.
Kurnool district collector Dr. A. Siri said, “If private schools are creating problems by not issuing transfer certificates, such cases should be brought to my notice. Strict action will be taken. We will ensure that such students are able to exercise their right to shift.”
Officials say in Kadapa district alone, nearly 1,500 students are still awaiting release from private schools despite requests. A similar situation exists in Krishna, Eluru, and Vizianagaram districts as well.
