A few schools in the city have been forced to take unprecedented measures following protest by parents against the implementation of the fee structure stipulated by the Govindarajan Committee.
SBIOA Model Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Mogappair declared holiday the last two days in view of the warning given by a section of parents that they would not allow children enter the school. The management said it is reopening on Friday and that it had to take the decision keeping in mind the “safety of children.”
According to members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the school, a small section of the parents were agitating that the management should not collect fee from those who had not paid the second term fee. An announcement in this regard should also be put up on the notice board, they demanded.
The protesting parents with the help of some outsiders had blocked the traffic near the school some days ago, said PTA members. After a warning that they would stop children coming to school, the management declared holiday. “We were negotiating with the protesting parents on behalf of the PTA. We tried convincing them that parents cannot dictate terms to the management and we have kind of pacified a majority of parents in the group,” said K. Murugan, president, PTA, SBIOA Model Matriculation Higher Secondary School.
Alpha Matriculation Higher Secondary School in West CIT Nagar has also been facing a similar kind of protest from a section of parents for two weeks. According to the management, a small section of parents is disrupting the activities in and around the school.
“We have given in writing to the Directorate of School Education that we will abide by the court ruling, but as the final issue is still under consideration parents need to wait and the same has been communicated to parents,” said S. Alfred Devaprasad, CEO and president, Alpha Group of Institutions.
“We had previously sought police intervention, but we hope that it does not go to the extent where we have to declare holiday,” he said.
A few weeks ago, a private matriculation school in Peravallur was also forced to close following protest by some parents.
Senior officials in the office of the Chief Educational Officer and Directorate of Matriculation Schools said no school has complained to them about the parents' protest. An official said the Directorate would ask the Inspector of Matriculation Schools to look into the matter and it would ensure schools function smoothly.
