Chennai school dual fee row: Principal, CEO removed

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, June 04, 2015: The fee discrimination controversy surrounding a Chennai school took a new twist on Thursday with the institution sacking its principal. According to reports, Bala Vidya Mandir has also expelled nine HoDs for siding with the children and their parents in the issue.

However, the school administration has denied issuing any such expulsion order.

"This dual fee issue has been sensationalised by a small group so that the media can report it. There is some vested interest. None of the teachers have been expelled. Show me the proof, where are the teachers protesting? They have come here to teach the students," the school’s managing trustee Ramana Prasad told India Today TV.
 
"We want teachers and children to go back to school. Bala Vidya Mandir is a child centric school. We don’t want children to go through an emotional trauma because of this," Prasad added.

The private school fee determination committee had ordered a probe after reports emerged that Bala Vidya Mandir management is demanding excessive fees and subjecting students who fail to pay it, to discrimination.

The South Chennai school allegedly demanded a monthly fee of Rs. 60,000 for Classes 6 to 8, about 67 per cent more than what the state government appointed fee determination committee had recommended. This prompted the parents to object following which the school management put out two options before them.

The children of parents who don’t want to pay the extra money will have only 4.5 hours of classroom session. Also, they would not be entitled to picnics or overseas exchange programmes. But wards of those parents who are ready to pay more will receive 59 services and activities.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday