CHENNAI: No school can threaten parents by extorting capitation fee under the pretext of closing down the school, S Kannappan, Director of Matriculation Schools, said in a statement on Saturday.
His statement comes in the context of the controversy surrounding SSM Schools, whose managing trustee told parents through a circular that he would not hesitate to shut the schools if parents did not pay a caution deposit of `2 lakhs.
“In this regard, it is our bounden duty to inform the educational agencies about certain provisions of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulations) Act, 1973 and Rules framed thereunder regarding protection extended to students against closure of schools,” the statement said.
The statement points to Section 18-A (1) (a) of the Act, which says that the government on receipt of a report from School Education Department that a private school management is responsible for maladministration or neglects to discharge any duties entrusted by the Act- can suspend the school management and appoint a special officer.
The statement added that no private school and no class and no course in a private school shall be closed without obtaining the prior approval of the competent authority and without making such arrangements as may be prescribed for continuance of the instructions of the pupils, adding that the competent authority may impose conditions that it deems necessary.
Further, rule 20 says that any property endowed to private schools (which propose to be closed) shall be continued to be used for educational purposes along with other contributions. “Therefore, any attempt to divert funds for purposes other than education is in violation of the fundamentals of the societies,” he said.