After a torrid summer during which they had to remain indoors for most of the time, it is school again for kids. Tiny tots in uniforms toting heavy school bags and water bottles are going to dot the city landscape yet again.
With majority of the schools in the city set to open on June 14, parents as well as children are all prepared for another year-long spell of institutionalised learning.
While a few schools have opened a weak ahead of the usual time, many have remained shut till Sunday. Nevertheless, parents have already begun the warm-ups, emptying their pockets for uniforms, shoes, books and stationery.
“We have spent Rs. 2,000 just for school uniforms and notebooks sold inside the school premises. We also shopped outside for shoes, school bags and stationery. Worst of all is the school fee. Salaried employees like us find it very hard to shell out tens of thousands of rupees to buy education for the children,” said K. Sandhya, a parent.
Cause for concern
Transportation is another worry. While many schools provide buses to pick the child from the nearest point, quite a few children depend on auto-rickshaws. Both have become pricier, claim parents. Auto-wallahs are apparently demanding higher fares than earlier with signs of fuel price hike in the offing.
Availability of text books is one aspect that worries students and teachers of government schools. In the context of low pass percentage from the city in the SSC public exams, this assumes even greater importance.
