VIJAYAWADA: Even as the current academic year for schools is drawing to a close with final examinations set to end by month-end, private school managements in Krishna district are in no mood to stop the heinous practice of fee-shaming.
On Monday, Dargah Islamiah Urdu High School in Vijayawada, made more than 20 students stand under the hot Sun for not clearing their fee dues. With the school management not allowing the student to appear for their first annual examination, their parents lodged a complaint with District Education Officer (DEO) MV Rajyalakshmi. The school management let the students in and allowed them to write the examination only after the DEO’s intervention.
The students were prevented from entering the premises. As a result, more than 20 students stood outside under the hot Sun at 10 a.m on Monday. The parents tried in vain to convince the school management to allow their wards to sit for the examination. With no other option left, the parents lodged a complaint with the DEO.
Soon, Deputy DEO of Krishna, K Ravikumar, warned the school authorities to allow the students into the premises and write their exams.Speaking to Express, Ravi Kumar said, “We have sternly warned the school management saying that the institution’s recognition will be cancelled if such severe punishments are given to children. We shall issue a show-cause notice to the school management over the issue. There are many more private schools in Krishna district which are resorting to fee-shaming the children. We instructed the school managements not to drag the children into the fee issues and talk to their parents instead.”
Pleading anonymity, one of the affected students said, “When a teacher told me that I have dues amounting to about Rs 5,000, I informed my father about the same. However, he could not arrange the money immediately. With this, the school management started punishing me and others who share my predicament. We were made to stand under the hot sun for the last one week. I didn’t attend the school for a few days.”