K. Radha, Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Department, has expressed concern over the increasing number of institutions which are running LKG and UKG classes without the required amenities and which were interviewing both parents and children before giving admissions.
Some institutions are also violating the Protection of Child Rights Act, she said and added that she would soon bring this to the notice of the authorities. Talking to The Hindu on Monday, Ms. Radha said that some institutions also collected “heavy fees” between Rs. 800 to Rs. 3,000 per month per childand termed it as illegal.
She further alleged that many private institutions also appointed undertrained staff to teach children.
Meanwhile, Chandra Patil, Education Officer, told The Hindu that the department started regulating the institutions once the Right to Education Act was implemented in the State in 2012. Those who wanted to open schools should submit applications online and after making spot visits and facilities , the department would grant permission.
However, he said that the government had not fixed any definite fees for the LKG and UKG sections and managements of these institutions could collect the fees based on its expenditure.
But all institutions must display the fee structure in front of the institutions, he added.
