Parents accused a private school in Kunnathur of demanding additional fees for their children admitted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act quota on Wednesday.
In the petition to R. Madesha, Block Educational Officer, Uthukuli, they alleged that the school demanded an additional fee of ₹25,470 for one of their daughters studying in Class V and ₹23,520 additional amount for another daughter studying in Class IV. The school also demanded ₹5,920 as book fees.
Claiming that the family is economically weak and unable to afford the fees allegedly demanded by the school, the parents said in the petition that the situation has affected the education of their daughters. The parents requested the educational officer that action must be taken against the principal.
An education official told The Hindu on condition of anonymity that officers will visit the school by 9 a.m. on Friday and will resolve the issue. This is the first time that a complaint was received in this regard against the school, the official said, adding that there have been no complaints of RTE Act quota violation in the block.
According to Section 12 (1) (c) of the RTE Act, private schools “...shall admit in Class 1, to the extent of at least twenty five percent of the strength of that class, children belonging to the weaker section and disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood and provide free and compulsory elementary education till its completion.”