Hyderabad: Parents claim St Andrews school discourages drinking water

Hyderabad: Don't drink water while in school. During lunch time also have a few sips but not more than that. You can have as much water once school finishes or you go home.

These oral instructions, parents say, are being given to children at St.Andrews School, Old Bowenpally. It is not confined to a few age groups but span students from primary to high school sections.

The reason, they point out, is ground water problem in the school. Students visit bathrooms to relieve themselves and in view of water problem the school administration zeroed in on this strange strategy, a parent said requesting anonymity.

A parent remarked that this practice will have an impact on the health of students eventually and the school administration will be held responsible.

"We understand there is water problem everywhere. Hence most students carry water bottles. The school strength is 4,000. When they are collecting annual fees as high as Rs 70,000 for some sections, they should explore alternative options to tide over the crisis instead of barring students from drinking water," the parent felt.

Hyde-rabad School Parents Association member Venkat Sainath felt barring students from drinking water is inhuman.

"Many parents complained to us about this issue. Some students said the toilets are locked half an hour before the school closes at 3 pm. Male students rush outside to relieve themselves but imagine the plight of girl students." he said.

When contacted, St.Andrew’s Principal Shomita Bhattacharya said that the allegations are baseless.

“We are procuring water from outside through water tankers and it is proving sufficient. A few parents are slinging mud at the school, but truth will prevail ultimately,” she said. The Ranga Reddy district administration meanwhile has convened a meeting with the school administration and parents on Tuesday over the issue of school timings.