After kids' protest, minister orders action against 'errant' school

Members of the Karnataka Schools Parents’ Association met Primary and Secondary Education minister Tanveer Sait on Tuesday, asking him to take action against a private state syllabus school for expelling three students.

The students, who were to be promoted to class X, VIII and VI, received transfer certificates (TCs) from their school, Apollo Public School in Hegganahalli, Sunkadakatte in April 2017. The school explained, in a letter dated April 19, that the students had not paid pending fees.

Parents of the students had approached the high court over excess fee charged by the school.

Ganganna K H, whose two children received TCs, explained that the high court directed that until the final order, he had to pay only 40% of the fee charged by the school. “The high court order said that the District Education Regulatoring Authority (DERA) should look into the matter and fix a reasonable fee. But they have not done so. Now, the school is saying that since I have not paid the balance amount, my children have been given TC,” Ganganna, who is an auto driver said.

E Javaregowda’s daughter was also given TC for similar reasons. The letter he received from the school says that due to a pending fee of Rs 63,300, they have given TC to his daughter.

The parents and members of the association protested in front of Sait’s residence. The minister met the group and held a discussion with them following which he issued an order. He instructed the BEO and DDPI, in whose jurisdiction the school comes, to have a meeting with him in three days.

He asked them to look into the claims made by the parents and submit a report in seven days.

Sait also issued a note saying, “I have instructed that the transfer certificates of these students should be withdrawn and they should be admitted back to the school. If this is not followed, I have directed that, under the amended Karnataka Education Act, the recognition of the school should be cancelled.”
DH News Service