Protests in Hyderabad Against Fee Hike By Private Schools

Hyderabad: The issue of what is being called 'arbitrary fee hike' by private schools in Hyderabad has left many parents worried for the past few days.

The Joint Action Committee for School fee Regulation carried out silent protest in Hyderabad outside district collector office against blatant violation of rules by private schools and Telangana government's inability to regulate them.

The protest was against dangerous trend by school managements in Hyderabad and Ramga Reddy districts, where students and parents who question school on various aspects particularly fee hike are being threatened.

CNN news 18 has highlighted how in one instance 27 students were given Transfer certificate by Amrita Vidyalaya school in East Marredpally after their questioned the rationale behind the hefty fee hike.

"We have planned this silent protest because we want the collectorate to intervene and bring about a mechanism, wherein the parents can directly put in their grievances and the authority can actually address those grievances" said a student's mother.

In another case, 7 students were asked to leave St Ann's school in Medchal in the middle of session disturbing their entire academic year.

"We have questioned the school management that beign a trustee school, they should not collect fee like private schools.After we questioned them, they sent Transfer Certificates to our children through courier" said another student's disgruntled mother, protesting against the hike.

Also, parents of St Andrews School in Bowenpally were kept locked inside school premises for 3 hours when they questioned the management regarding change in school timings. In all these instances, the parents approached district education officer to Commissioner of school education seeking immediate intervention, but all in vain.

The protesting parents have requested the government to act against such schools and force them to comply with existing rules and regulations. They want the government to regulate the illegal fee hike by private schools.

CNN-News18 is also running a campaign for fee hike regulation and the campaign aims at taking forward the voices of the parents protesting against the fee hike.