The Pratibha awards instituted by the government to encourage meritorious students has triggered a row, with many parents in the district alleging that the objective of the award has been compromised at the grassroots level.
Several parents have sent written complaints to the Regional Joint Director of the Education Department, seeking high-level inquiry into the wrong interpretation of the rules to benefit a few corporate schools, which wanted to get maximum awards for those institutions.
According to the latest circulars of the Education Department, six students will be selected from each mandal for the awards. The students who secured the highest marks and ranks in SSC exams will get Rs. 20, 000 each. With the stiff competition among the institutions, a few schools have changed their addresses, claiming that they come under the respective mandals, allege parents.
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Sources say, a corporate school in Srikakulam mandal claimed that it was located in Gara where the competition was less. A few officials and staff of the Education Department had reportedly helped the institution to include it in the Gara mandal list, helping it getting maximum awards. But, many eligible students in the mandal have been denied awards, they say.
A parent Bhair Ramanamma of Lingalavalasa of Gara mandal alleged that her daughter was denied the award, despite securing 10/10 grade. A senior advocate Jallu Tirupati Rao alleged that the department had ignored her daughter Pragati saying that the selection was done at higher level and they did not have any role in it.
‘Corporate schools, in collusion with govt. officials, are influencing the selection process’
Written complaints have been sent to the authorities, seeking inquiry into the allegations