Unable to pay fee arrears, parents shifting wards to govt. schools

SADASIVAPET (SANGAREDDY DISTRICT)

Parents are slowly shifting their children to government schools from private schools due to which there is a sudden surge in the number of admissions in government schools.

This is because several private schools in Telangana have started demanding tuition fee arrears from parents for their wards to continue education in these institutions.

Many people could not pay fees for their children in the last two years due to the pandemic.

Principal of Government Ravindra Model Primary School in Sangareddy district, L. Keerthana, is admitting children only for classes I and II, as it is not possible to accommodate all the students seeking admission. So far, 62 students were admitted, out of which 17 are from private schools.

There is another government primary school and two high schools in the same building. As the infrastructure is good here, parents are preferring these schools.

“During last year, we turned down the request of about 100 students for admissions in classes III, IV and V, as the strength had already touched 80 in each class. They were referred to the neighbouring schools,” Ms. Keerthana told The Hindu.

Last year, the school strength reached a total of 420 combining all the five classes but remained at 381 at the end of the year, as only some students got admission in hostels and some left due to congested accommodation in classrooms.