Traffic was hit at the junction near Dr. Ambedkar College for Arts and Science in MKB Nagar on Wednesday after more than 500 parents of students of Don Bosco Primary School blocked the stretch, demanding withdrawal of a fee hike.
Around 10 a.m., a large number of parents gathered at the junction, following failed talks with the school authorities earlier in the day. They blocked the stretch and raised slogans against the school management for the steep hike in annual school fees and other fees including those for books, computer classes and SMSes sent to parents by school authorities regarding homework, examinations dates, subjects and other important announcements.
Parents complained that the fees for computer classes and abacus learning had been doubled and the courses made mandatory for all classes. “The meeting with school authorities failed initiated by the parents teachers association on the issue unable to solve it as they refused to revert to the previous fee structure. As most of the students in the locality are poor, the sudden, steep hike will affect their studies,” said K. Perumal, a parent.
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A large police contingent led by assistant commissioner of police Govi Manoharan pacified the agitated parents and tried to resolve the issue by holding a discussion with the school management. However, the school authorities said the fees had been hiked after a gap of four years to meet various school expenses including teachers’ salaries.