Students stay away a day after schools reopen in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Despite optimism that physical attendance in schools will be good for this academic year, the attendance levels on the first two days has been rather low across government and private schools in the state.

According to Telangana Recognised Schools Management Association (TRSMA), only 30-40% students turned up in the last two days in private school.
Despite over 70,000 new enrollments, the number in government schools was slightly similar to that of private ones as well.
“Currently the attendance is only 30% to 40% but we are expecting the numbers to rise upto 80% to 85% by Monday. Majority of schools not receiving permits for school buses leaving limited travel options and some children not returning from villages and opting schools there might be the two probable reasons for low numbers this year,” said Yadagiri Shekhar Rao, TRSMA State President.
Parents on the other hand note this year they haven’t been able to send children to school on time owing to concerns of high fees and pending fee arrears. “For two years my son did not go to school but now before reopening they want us to pay 25,000 in order to promote him or give transfer certificate (TC). The regular fee was only 5,000 then.. We dont know where did this 25,000 come from,” shared a parent whose ward studies in a school at Panjagutta. To make matters trickier, when the parent enquired at a government school, the local head master sought for TC to admit the child. “For a TC now I may have to pay 25,000,” the parent said.
Another parent noted that a school in Tarnaka was forcing students to undergo re-exam. The school is collecting hefty sums for the same to promote to the next class, prompting parents to explore options elsewhere without a transfer certificate.
Low budget private schools meanwhile fear the worst. “With Covid-19 cases increasing again parents may completely switch to government schools or avoid joining at all fearing lockdown and the financial crunch that comes along. We are hoping atleast 60% to join back,” added Y Sridhar Reddy, who runs a school in Shamshabad.