Many students in North Karnataka quit private schools over fees

BELAGAVI: Under pressure from managements to pay fees and parents unable to bring that kind of money with their income reduced in the impact of Covid-19 lockdown, hundreds of children in parts of North Karnataka are shifting from private schools to ones owned by the state government, reports Shreyas HS.
This trend of collecting transfer certificates to shift to a government institution is seen largely in Raichur, Yadgir, Ballari, Kalaburagi and Belagavi districts.
BEO: Many cases have not come to edu dept’s notice
For instance, in Sindhanur taluk of Raichur district, at least 25 children took transfer out of private schools in the past 15 days. Block education officer Sharanappa Vatgal confirmed to TOI that his department helped the children obtain the certificates after their parents approached him. The certificates were issued to the children so that they were free to join schools of their choice where the fee pressure is a lot less.
Vatgal said more and more children were quitting private schools as their parents were unable to arrange school fees, and many cases have not come to the notice of the education department.
Ballari deputy director of public instruction Ramappa C told TOI he was aware of instances when parents found it difficult to pay school fees of their children. He said cases of students opting to join government school were reported from Ballari too and such instances were on the rise.
‘Graph likely to increase’
Yadgir DDPI Srinivas Reddy said 1% of students from private schools in Yadgir city have shifted to government institutions. The numbers may be less, but the graph is likely to increase in the coming days.
Education expert VP Niranjanaradhya said the government must capitalise on the trend to help children migrate to public-owned schools without hassles. “Block education officers must accord priority to such cases and expedite issuance of transfer certificates so that students benefit the most. Some private school managements are harassing already-burdened parents with fee reminders,” he said.