Parents under pressure

Vijayawada: Almost six months before the classes for the academic year 2014 commence, several corporate educational institutions in the city have already started the process of admitting students.

It is no secret that the groups which own most of the corporate schools in the city also run colleges. Most of the teachers in these schools are contacting parents, hig-hlighting the achievements of the colleges owned by the groups which also own these corporate schools.

These schools are specifically targetting Class X students, and have entrusted the teachers to answer queries regarding admissions. To make the “offer” more attractive, these junior colleges are offering “packages” with various courses and fees structure for the next academic year. These “packages” include special discounts, if the students confirm admission now itself.

Moreover, the school managements are warning parents that if they did not confirm their wards’ admissions right now, they will not get any concession in the future. For confirming the admissions, the parents need to pay at least Rs 2,000 for each student.

The school managements charge anything from Rs 20,000 to Rs 45,000 per year for MPC courses and up to Rs 75,000 per year for BiPC groups for day scholars. The fee is doubled if the students avail hostel facilities.

Besides, the managements are also “caution” the parents that if they do not confirm the admissions at present, their wards may be unable to get seats in courses of their choice.

According to a parent, the entire exercise points to only one thing—the owners plan to ensure that the students continue to study in educational institutions they own.

Expressing his dilemma, V. Rama Rao, a parent, said that he was being forced to take a call on his child’s future and asked to pay for his college admission now. “As it is, I am facing a problem paying my child’s school fee. I don’t know how I will manage to arrange the money for his admission,” he said.