HYDERABAD: Parents of school students from the city and elsewhere in the state alleged on Monday that authorities are detaining their children and blocking them from virtual classes over fee dues. They said even those schools which did not even provide online classes during the pandemic are asking parents to pay the complete fee to allow their children into classrooms.
“As physical classes started, I started sending my son to school. Soon after they started asking us to buy books. When I went to school to buy books, management asked me to clear the complete fee,” said a parent of class 4 student at a school in Pedda Amberpet. He claimed that last academic year, the school did not even conduct online classes. “We hired a tutor so that my son can continue his education. Why should I pay entire fee when the school did not take classes,” he questioned.
Parents and teachers said that most schools were giving access to virtual classes to only those students who cleared the full fee. “Teachers were given the list of defaulters and asked not to add them to WhatsApp group or give access to online classes,” said a teacher working at a well-known city school. The teacher said that no school is promoting students without clearing dues.
Some even took to Twitter to raise the issue. “Respected minister sir, Government doing well for the Development of Telangana state no doubt at all, same time please save the parents from the hands of private schools. Due to the pandemic situation unable to pay fees and the school management is not allowing children to online classes. Please do justice,” read a tweet from @md_abdulvajid to @KTRTRS.
Members of Telangana Recognised School Managements Association (TRSMA), said some schools in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal, and few in Vikarabad and Sangareddy are pressuring parents to pay fee dues. “In remaining districts, hardly 15% of students are attending classes. Only those parents who are coming for TC, bonafide, or class 10 marks memo are clearing the fee,” said TRSMA president, Y Shekhar Rao.
He said there are parents who have not cleared dues since the academic year 2019-20 and added that many schools are on the verge of shutting down.
