Visakhapatnam: The district task force committee cracking a whip on unrecognised schools across the district has the parents of the students, caught in a quandary. In the last two days, the task force committee, headed by joint collector-2, seized about 60 schools as of Tuesday, including some in Gajuwaka, Pedagantyada, Sriharipuram, RH Colony, Kancharapalem, HB Colony, Relli Veedhi, etc., and sent the students home.
Even after admitting their wards in a (unrecognised) private school paying hefty fee and purchasing all stationery and uniform, the parents are now left with no option other than transferring their kids to another private school or a government school. But it would cost them a fortune if they opt for another private school as it triggers another cycle of big expenditure. The district education officials identified 142 unrecognised schools in the run up to the new academic year and put the details of those schools on their website. But unknowingly, some parents were caught in the trap of these schools.
District Educational Officer, M.V. Krishna Reddy, advised the parents not to ruin the future of kids by admitting them in unrecognised schools. “The newly introduced CCE system does not allow the students to write exams privately under Without School Category. The kids in unrecognised schools should move to another recognised private school or a nearby government school,” he added. Dukka Sankar, a parent, commented that he was left in the dark as there was no clear information regarding refund of school fee. “I may have to spend another '10,000 to admit my kid in another school,” he added.
HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao informed that they will direct the unrecognised school managements to refund the school fee and others. “Not obtaining recognition is purely a mistake on the part of the schools. So now it is their responsibility to refund the school fee,” he added. When this correspondent spoke to representatives of various seized schools, some informed that they requested the parents to wait for some more days before they get recognition and some are in talks with other schools to shift the students. AP Private Schools Association State President, K.S.N. Murty, commented that while rules prescribed by the government should be followed, steps must be taken to regularise these schools instead of closing them as they played a crucial role in increasing the literacy rate of the state.
Infographics:
Thousands of parents are left with no idea regarding the refund of school fee and opting for another school.
The district education officials identified 142 unrecognised schools in the district, apart from tutorial centres.
Last year, the officials seized about 106 schools.
The newly introduced CCE system does not allow the students to write exams privately under Without School Category, leaving no option for unrecognised schools.
