School under fire for discriminatory fee structure; denies it

Chennai: A city-based school faced angry protests from parents over its alleged dual fee policy and for discriminating between students, a charge denied by the school management which expressed its willingness to address the concerns raised by the parents. Incidentally, the school subsequently replaced its Principal Srinivasa Raghavan with S Sujatha. Bala Vidya Mandir, located at Adyar, had faced protests from parents after it allegedly said that students paying fee stipulated by Singaravelan Committee (about Rs 39,000) will be allowed to only attend classes.

A parent had claimed she received an email stating those willing to pay in excess of Rs 50,000 will be entitled for a slew of facilities including canteen and others in the school. The school had suggested charging higher fees for 59 facilities including sports, attending annual day and access to library, she said, adding these facilities are as such given by any institution.

"Even some teachers were against this as they saw it as discrimination and we subsequently filed a petition with Singaravelan Committee," she said. However, the school management has denied the allegations and expressed its willingness to address the concerns raised by the parents. "At the outset, the Management Committee regrets that false allegations that have been made and mis-statements that have been levelled against the school and management by those who have sought to tarnish the reputation of the school," it said.

The management understands the concerns raised by the parents and wished to address them, "keeping in mind the best interest of children of Bala Vidya Mandir," it said. "The management committee has terminated the services of Mr SS Nathan (as CEO)," it said in a statement adding he had been replaced with his deputy S Sujata.

A new School Management Committee had also been constituted, it said, adding teachers, parents and others will have representation in it. Sujata will be new Member Secretary. It will hold consultations with parents "to discuss the way forward" in view of the recent developments.

"The Management Committee assures that it will abide by all the applicable rules and regulations, including the orders of the Honourable Fee Committee," and will implement its orders and follow them in totality, it said. Further, the school never intended to discriminate between students, it said, adding it aimed at providing "best holistic education" for them. The school re-opened today with scores of parents thronging the institution.