A private school group’s decision to slap a caution deposit running into lakhs triggered protests by parents, who gathered in front of the two schools run by the management in Perungalathur and Chromepet in large numbers. The parents gave up the agitation only after School Education Department officials, police and the local MLA intervened and pacified them, assuring that they do not have to pay.

Parents sit in front of the school, condemning the management’s demand, on Friday

Chennai:

Hundreds of parents, whose children are studying in the SSM group of schools in Perungalathur and Chromepet, staged the protest in front of the two schools run by the same management after they were asked to pay a caution deposit ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.

The management of Srimathi Sundaravali Memorial School (SSM) had sent circulars to parents on Thursday demanding the caution deposit.

“Those parents who are not willing to or cannot pay the enhanced caution deposit can take a final decision before July 31 and communicate the same through the acknowledgement slip enclosed. Those who commit to leave the school at the end of the year, the Transfer Certificate will be issued at the end of this academic year. 

This information is a must for the management to plan for running the school for the next 10 years and also for making the necessary arrangements for the academic year 2019-20,” the school management said in the circular.

Following the receipt of the circular, hundreds of parents gathered in front of both the schools on Friday, raising slogans against the management.

Several parents also claimed that they had already paid donation ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 as demanded by the school management. According to them, the school management has been steeply increasing the fees year after year.

The protesting parents asked the police to arrest the principal. On information, Kancheepuram district chief educational officer, a team from local police and Tambaram MLA S R Raja and visited the spot and held talks with the protestors. The CEO assured the parents that there was no need to pay the amount, following which they agreed to give up their agitation.