It’s December and many private schools in the city are abuzz with admission activity for 2013-14 academic year. While, admissions for playgroups, kindergarten and other classes in many schools are on the verge of completion, some managements have already completed their admission process.
Cashing in on the desperation of parents to join their wards in top schools, managements are flouting rules at will. Many of them are conducting entrance exams and interviews to shortlist students for admission despite the norms against such tests.
At receiving end
Amidst this, it is the parents, who are at the receiving end, especially whose wards are born between October and November months as the child needs to complete three and half years at the time of admission.
A number of parents allege that managements do not issue application forms for such children. For the fear of losing an academic year, many parents either produce fake birth certificates or pay exorbitant donations, B.V. Ramesh Naidu, president of Twin Cities School Students and Parents Association.
Right from student’s age, syllabus, fees etc, school managements enact different rules for admissions.
Many of them have even advertised in different media inviting applications for admissions, yet the district education authorities turn a blind eye to this illegal practice, fumes Mr. Naidu.
Though a few managements have already announced completion of admissions, parents line up at different schools to collect applications forms from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon.
Hefty charges
Depending on the category and infrastructure, managements collect hefty charges from parents.
While, admissions in international schools range from Rs. 5 to Rs.18 lakh per annum, including food, transportation and books, others charge about Rs.1 lakh to Rs. 1.5 lakh. If not, one needs to have a recommendation from top politicians and bureaucrats, he explains.
It is not just private schools, even those which are operated by trusts and education societies are also demanding hefty admission fee, says Abdul Wajid, organising secretary of Andhra Pradesh Parents Association Coordination Committee
Donations
Though many parents are aware that it is illegal to pay donations or seek admission in December, they have no choice but to heed to school managements demands.
Authorities should conduct special drives to curb this practice, says Mr. Wajid.
