Telangana: Schools under lens for exorbitant fees

HYDERABAD: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked commissioner and director of school education (C&DSE) T Vijaya Kumar to look into exorbitant fees and financial irregularities of 19 schools in Rangareddy and Medchal districts.
Of the 19 schools, 10 top-notch schools are located in Gachibowli, Madhapur, Nanakramguda, Rajendranagar and the rest are operating in Nacharam and Medchal areas. "Not even a single school has submitted its revenue details to the board or placed them on their website. That's the reason why we approached NCPCR and the commission, in turn, asked C&DSE to look into the issue," said Vijay Gopal, an activist, who would also be seeking legal help over financial irregularities of schools. He said the commissioner was asked to look into finances of 37 schools in all.
"While the commissioner has already been sent a letter on Rangareddy and Medchal schools with NCPCR asking him to look into matters relating to violation of RTE Act-2019, GO No. 91 of 2009 along with issues relating to collection of exorbitant fees and financial irregularities, another letter on schools in Hyderabad district will be sent soon," he added.
The commissioner, meanwhile, confirmed that he has received a letter from NCPCR. Speaking to TOI, he said the government is seized of the matter. He said Tirupathi Rao committee was constituted to look into this. "The government cannot make any announcement as the model code of conduct is in place. Most probably, they should address the issue in the last week of May or first week of June," said Kumar.
Parents, however, were sceptic. "We have been fighting for years and nothing much has been done till now. They formed a committee and no one knows what happened to it and its recommendations. We lost hope in the state government and school education board. The private school lobby is very powerful," said Venkata Sainath, joint secretary of Hyderabad Schools Parents Association.