Schools start looting even before new academic year begins

HYDERABAD: As the academic year 2022-23 comes to an end and schools begin to prepare for the upcoming year, some managements have been resorting to desperate means to extort money from parents even at the last minute.

According to parents, certain schools have been asking a percentage of 2023-24’s first term fee to be paid in April itself.

"The school staff casually said if we fail to do so, and new admissions are willing to pay for the limited seats that are available, our child's seat in the next year cannot be guaranteed. When I asked them to give it to me in writing, they refused," said Maruti Hans Rao, whose child studies in a school at Bowrampet.

Another parent, whose child is looking to move to another school, said that they were being denied the transfer certificate unless they paid 30 per cent of the next year's term fee.

"Apparently, for the child to be given a TC, the parent should have applied for it before March 31 or pay 30 per cent of next term's fee, which is a blatant deprivation of a ward's basic right," said another parent.

According to advocate D Neha, as per Section 5 (3) of the Right To Education Act 2009, a transfer certificate is to be issued by the school without any charge. On failing to oblige, the management is liable for disciplinary action. Meanwhile, the school where the child is seeking admission cannot deny admission if there is a delay in procuring the TC certificate.

Certain international and private schools have also been forcing parents to purchase books for the next academic year only via a link of a particular vendor or their own stall.

"It's the same with uniforms. We were also sent a circular that we must collect them only on one particular day. If we want it, we'll have to pay a late fine," said a parent of a renowned international school.

While the schools were reached, they refused to comment on the issue, another denied while two others feigned ignorance and said till next they were busy with ‘exams and PTA meetings’.