Demonstration at Coimbatore on 1.6.2012 - Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assembly and leaders of various parties and organisations to participate in support of parents

Demonstration against fleecing of parents and harassment to students by not giving books for the next year

Intervention of Secretary to School Education sought to enable children continue education

The letter issued to the Secretary for School Education today (24.5.12) seeking urgent intervention on the issue of schools refusing to give text books to select students and fee related matters is given below:

 

To

Smt. D. Sabitha,

Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu,

School Education Department,

Fort St. George,

Chennai.

Respected Madam,

Sub: Specific instructions requested to (i) make books freely available for students either by the Government or in open market AND (ii) deal with fees for extra-curricular activities, SMART classes, etc – reg.

*****

Issue No. 1: Making available books for all school students either by the Government or in the open market thereby not permitting the private schools to exploit the responsibility bestowed upon them to distribute books:

          It is learnt that the Government has made it the responsibility of the private schools to procure text books from the Government and distribute it to the students. 

However, in many cases it is reported that the school managements are refusing to accept the fees for the coming academic year and not distributing books if the parents do not pay the ‘disputed higher fees for the past years’ as demanded by schools.

As the Government would be aware, in respect of many schools disputes regarding demand of higher fees is before the Hon’ble Fee Determination Committee and District Educational Officials. 

These proceedings have to reach their logical end.  But disruption of education cannot be permitted due to that reason.

The schools in Coimbatore reported to be indulging in such arm twisting are:

1)    SBOA Matriculation.

2)    Chandra Matriculation.

3)    St. Joseph’s Matriculation, Ondipudur.

4)    Chinmaya Vidyalayas.

Hence it is requested that urgent instructions may kindly be issued to all concerned to make text books available to all school students before re-opening of schools and ensure that education is not disrupted.

Alternatively, the text books may please be made available freely in the market so that schools cannot misuse the responsibility given to them to arm twist parents into paying disputed higher fees.

Issue No 2: Scholastic and Co-scholastic activities named as Extra-curricular activities to collect more fees:

The Government has already vide G.O.(Ms) No. 143. dated 19.09.2011 (School Education (VI) Department) issued detailed instructions regarding introduction of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation System (CCES) and also clearly indicated what are the scholastic areas and co-scholastic areas.  In spite of this specific classification, many schools are learnt to be charging separate fees in the name of extra-curricular activities for ‘yoga’ etc. which are clearly defined within the curricular activities under Physical education and for art, dance, etc which are brought under the scope of co-scholastic activities under the term ‘visual and performing arts’. 

Hence, it is requested that the educational officials at the District levels may please be issued with instructions to not treat the above as extra-curricular activities and that no fees should be collected for them separately.

Issue No. 3: Regulating the subjects dealt with in SMART class to ensure that they do not deviate from the Government policy and lead to excess collection of fees.

It has become a trend for schools to charge extra fees in the name of ‘SMART Class’.  If the subjects dealt with in these SMART Classes are within the curriculum approved by the Government, the methodology of introducing electronic devices in teaching is only an improvisation made by the schools for which required allowances have been made while fees has been fixed by the Private School Fee Determination Committee.  In such a situation the schools should not be allowed to charge anything more in the name of these SMART Classes.           

            If the subjects dealt with in the SMART Classes are separate from the Government approved curriculum, such tendencies have to be strictly prohibited since it would interfere with the state policy as upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court to provide uniform syllabus for learning for all students in the schools of the State.

          It is requested that specific instructions on the above may kindly be issued to the concerned so that such technological advancements are not mis-used to deviate from Government policy and/or to exploit parents in the name of special fees.

          Due to the sensitivity of the issues stated above, we request your urgent and kind intervention in the matter.

Yours truly,

(R. Manimohan)

Chairman

COC of SWAP

 Coimbatore