Private schools loot parents with hefty fees

With the beginning of the admission season, a few private schools in the city are resorting to looting parents seeking placement for their wards in LKG, UKG, PP 1 and PP 2. According to sources, management of schools are charging hefty amounts in the name of fee in categories like application, admission, tuition, and luring guardians with “impressive” announcements. In addition, they set up business centres adjacent to schools selling note/textbooks, stationery and uniforms.

To meet the high costs, many parents including ones from lower middle class backgrounds are forced to secure loans, even if it means purchasing education which is increasingly getting ‘corporatised’.

The amounts collected as fee/donations vary in schools, which are located in lanes or branded as corporate, techno, concept, national and international, which are merely added with sole motive of doubling fee. If the prescribed amounts are not paid on time children can’t escape punishment and are getting slighted in classes. Even parents can’t escape embarrassment when schools deny issuance of progress reports if payment of fee is delayed.

One would assume that such hefty amounts collected by the schools would translate to better infrastructure and faculty. But, that is not the case. Despite collecting huge fee, schools don’t show interest in appointing qualified teachers. “The schools are usually crammed with inadequate ventilation, fans, latrines, fire safety, unfit busses with inexperienced drivers,” complain a few parents while speaking to The Hans India.

“The only motive of such schools is making money,” allege a few members of the Telangana Parents’ Association. However, their innumerable complaints regarding donations and education becoming business have fallen on deaf ears. According to educationist Nagati Narayana, of the 60.63 lakh schoolchildren in 2016-17 across the State, private schools accounted for 30.48 lakh, private/aided institutions for 1.42 lakh and unrecognised private schools had 19,812 strength.

“There are 2,293 private, 294 aided and 22 unrecognised schools in Hyderabad. In Telangana there are 10,799 private schools, 742 aided and 150 unrecognised institutions,” he told The Hans India. Hyderabad District Association president Rachakonda Mallesh says it is high time the government checks such business trends and maintains strict vigil on private schools. He points out closure of about 4,300 government schools has become a blessing for private managements.

By Veggalam Ramu