Pay fees, otherwise you can't sit for exams: Chennai school

Chennai: Many students who are to appear for the board exams this year from Asan Memorial senior secondary school have been warned they would not be allowed to sit for the examination if they do not pay the school-fixed fees.

While parents say they have paid the fees as per the Singaravelu committee,  the school is demanding excess amount, which they refused.

Suresh Kumar,  a parent of a Class XII student, alleged, “The vice principal of the school warned students that if they don’t pay the school-fixed fee, they will be debarred from sitting for the board practicals. It is a mental trauma for the students as well.” Not just the principal, but also teachers are pressurising students, he said.  

Further T. Kishan Kumar, another parent, said it started with Class XII section A. Every Monday, during the assembly, the principal or vice principal would warn  almost all students who have not paid the excess fee. “The parents have paid the original Singaravelu committee-fixed fees. Here, they will debar students from sitting for exams, if they don’t pay the excess amount.”

Further he also added, “Today we went with a letter to meet the CBSE regional officer. But, he was not available.” When contacted, principal Suma Padmanabhan said, “ I am not in a position to comment on anything as I am out of station.”

A CBSE official said the school has to charge the fee which is commensurate with the facility it provides, that is the rule. “We have sent a note to the Central office regarding Rabindra Bharathi School. It is regarding general fee hike. Let complaints come to us on Asan Memorial School, only then we can take a step,” he said. A fortnight ago, students of Ravindra Bharathi school were locked up inside the library as their parents protested against excess fee.