CHENNAI: The struggle for the family of a class III student, who was sent home from the school because his father protested against the school allegedly collecting excess fees, continued for yet another day, with the school refusing to let the child in until the fees were paid.
The student’s father said he spent the day running from pillar to post to get various authorities to accept his complaint against Narayana e-Techno School, Ramapuram that had allegedly sent the child home on Tuesday because of the family’s refusal to pay the fee, which the parents alleged were in excess of that fixed by Justice Singaravelu Private School Fee Determination Committee.
“The regional officer refused to accept the complaint claiming that the school’s affiliation process was pending. After an hour’s struggle, his personal assistant accepted the complaint. But I’m not sure what action they would take,” the distraught father told Express.
Following this, he approached Justice Singaravelu Committee which accepted the petition. But when he approached the Director of School Education, he was referred to the Director of Matriculation Schools. Later, he approached the Chief Minister’s Special Cell in the evening, where he was asked to submit a more detailed complaint along with all supporting documents. Despite repeated attempts, the school DGM Pushpalatha was unavailable for comments.
The school, thefather alleged, was not ready to provide the fee break up as was promised in writing following the protests. After the father refused to pay the balance fee unless the school agreed to fulfill the promises made, his eight-year-old son was sent back home.
Not allowing a child in the age group 6-14 to attend classes without informing the local authorities was a violation of the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.