Parents protest after students are barred from writing exam

Mysuru: Parents of students studying between classes I and IX in a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)BSE school under Mysuru South Education Block protested in front of the school alleging that their children are not allowed to appear for the ongoing midterm examination. They also accused the school management of joining hands with a private financial service provider and making them pay at the company after submitting know your customer (KYC) information.
The protest was withdrawn after the intervention of deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) Ramachandra Raje Urs.
The protest started in the morning when the school management didn’t allow these children to appear for the examination. The parents rushed to the school and started a protest.
According to the parents, for the last few days, trouble is brewing in the school over the mode of fee payment and collecting fee arrears of Covid-19 period. The previous management had allowed parents to pay the fee in instalments. However, the new management refunded the fee to parents in August. The parents said they are being pressurised to pay at a private financial service provider with their KYC, OTP etc.
“When we refused to pay the finance company, school management demanded a penalty since August for the refunded fee amount which is between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. The management is also demanding the fee arrears related to the Covid-19 period,” alleged parents.
“For the last few days, our children are being ill-treated at the school. They were made to write the mid-term examination near a bathroom. So, we held a protest,” said a parent.
DDPI Ramachandra Raje Urs said he held a discussion with parents and school management and addressed their grievances. “The management has been directed not to make parents pay the fee through the financial service provider. Instead, the school management has been told to open a counter in the school or allow direct payment through digital mode or bank transfer. We are sending an enquiry team on November 2 and a report will be placed before the District Education Regulatory Authority (DERA),” he said.
He added that the school management has been told to allow the students to write the missed examination on another day.