An organisation formed by parents of students has filed a public interest litigation petition in the Madras High Court for a direction to the State government to introduce LKG and UKG classes in all government primary and elementary schools in the State from the coming academic year for the benefit of the rural poor.
In the petition, the Parents Union for Students Educational Rights (PUSER), Vriddhachalam in Cuddalore district, submitted that even after school fees were fixed by a statutory committee, private schools in Cuddalore and Vriddachalam districts collected exorbitant capitation fees and school fees, but the institutions did not issue any receipt. If any parent was not able to pay the fee demanded by the school managements, they were humiliated and forced to collect their children’s transfer certificates. This tendency had created mental agony in parents and resulted in embarrassment to children.
Pre-school education was an indispensable instrument for proper development of personality of children. But most of the nursery and kindergarten schools were run by private agencies and voluntary organisations. They charged very high fees. Thus, pre-school education was limited to rich children. The poor could not avail themselves of the benefit of pre-school education. The fast changing living conditions had necessitated the provision of such training.
Hence, the State should establish LKG and UKG classes in all the government primary and elementary schools as per the Right to Education Act so that the poor would also be benefited.
When the petition came up before a Vacation Bench comprising Justices R. Sudhakar and K.K. Sasidharan, the Additional Government Pleader, P.Sanjai Gandhi, took notice.
The Bench posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.
