81 schools closed

Visakhapatnam: Badi Pilustondi is now a big joke when more than 80 schools are shut in the area, sending home more than 10,000 children, said BJP MLA P Vishnu Kumar Raju.

The special drive launched by the department of HRD on unrecognised schools did more harm to the students and teachers than the private managements by closing down the schools abruptly. The managements have collected hefty fee from the parents pretending to have all approvals.

As on date, 81 schools have been shut and the drive is going on by seven special squads headed by senior revenue officials.

As per reports, over 10,000 students have been affected by the closure and 1,200 to 1,500 teachers rendered jobless.
“The timing of closure of the school is absolutely wrong. The DEO should have closed the schools before summer vacation. The parents have paid hefty fees, bought uniforms, books and other material.

Now they are not sure of getting seats in good schools and most of them are not in a position to pay the fees,’’ said Vishnu Kumar Raju.
He said of the 81 schools closed as on date, 15 schools have strength more than 150 each and remaining 66 schools each had 40 children enrolled. The Visakha Urban area has 450 recognised schools, GVMC 103 schools and another 27 are aided schools.

The MLA demanded that a separate cell should be immediately formed to guide the parents who are now in a state of shock. He said DEO should inform the public through the special cell on the location of schools area-wise and fee structure.

He said the government should take the responsibility to get the fee reimbursement from the closed schools and pay to the new schools.

“The new schools should admit the children without asking for the fees,’’ the MLA said.
Taking a dig at the government, the BJP MLA said in spite of demand from the public, liquor shops are not closed but the schools are shut with the drop of a hat.