Chennai:
A private school in Chennai has come under the state authorities' scanner for allegedly demanding excessive fees and subjecting students who fail to pay it, to discrimination.
Following an outcry, the private school fee determination committee has ordered a probe into the situation of Bala Vidya Mandir School, located in Adyar in South Chennai.
The school demanded a yearly fee of Rs 60,000 for Classes 6 to 8, - 67% more than what the state government appointed fee determination committee had recommended.
When the parents objected, the school put forth two options: The children of parents who wanted their money back will have only 4.5 hours of classroom session. Also, they would miss out on picnics, overseas exchange programmes, participation in annual day programmes, and even basic necessities like school bus, canteen services and training to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse.
Those who shelled out the extra bucks, however, in addition to the above, will get 59 activities and services. It would even include smartboard classes, soft skills training, sports coaching, magazines, elections and leadership opportunity.
The parents are furious.
"This is discrimination according to one's financial status," said GS Vidyashankar.
"This is illegal. The fee determination committee has fixed the fee only after taking into account all activities they offer," said Dr V Suresh, another parent who's also the Secretary of the People's Union for Civil Liberties.
"My child already asks, 'Will I be able to use the canteen, the playground'?" said Raji Sundar.
The school management refused to comment on the matter.
But sources close to them justified the move, claiming huge overheads on account of more than 150 teaching and non-teaching staff. The fee determination committee, they also said, has made a "wrong assessment".