Visakhapatnam: Parents protest fee hike, school yields

Visakhapatnam: Parents of students studying in three branches of Timpany School on Friday staged a hunger strike opposing the arbitrary increase in the fee structure for the ensuing academic year.

After a day-long protest, school chairman Annie Cherian met around 16 parents in her chamber and orally assured them that the fee hike would be rolled back for this academic year. She asked the parents to withdraw the strike in the school premises.

Meanwhile, the parents urged the management to follow the CBSE Board rules while enhancing the school fee every year. Instead of informing a week ahead of the payment date, they demanded any announcement be made at least a couple of months before the fee hike is affected.

A. Revathi, a parent, said that Timpany School informed her about the fee hike in December. However, the exact amount was not revealed in the student diary.

She said, “We assumed a rise of 8 per cent of the existing fee. But, it was more than 25 per cent hike.”

She added, “If the school hikes the fee nominally, we don’t have any problem. Moreover, there should be an early intimation about the exact rise in the fee amount. It is not possible to get admission into a new school if the management increases the fee arbitrarily.”  

Meanwhile, III-Town police reached the school in the evening to resolve the issue. The parents were asked to send a representation mail to the management.

The protest is likely to continue on Monday if the management doesn’t give a written assurance on the fee roll back.