MANGALURU: While serpentine queues in front of private schools was a common sight during admissions earlier, it is different this year.
Private schools are losing out on admissions as parents, who wish to enroll their wards for Class 1, are waiting for fee issue to be resolved in the court. The government schools continue to have normal admissions.
Dakshina Kannada DDPI Malleswamy said the government directed schools to collect 70% tuition fee for 2019-2020 and adjust the amount next year if parents paid it in full. The decision for this year is still pending and the high court may decide the same in its next hearing on July 22. “As a result, many parents have adopted a wait and watch policy,” said Malleswamy. The academic year started with admission from June 15 and the last date is August 31.
Puttur block education officer Lokesh C said though the government asked to collect 70% tuition fee for 2019-2020, some schools forced parents to pay full fee. When parents failed, their wards were removed from online classes. Some parents are unwilling to pay the stipulated fee. “All these factors have snowballed and forced parents to wait for the court’s final order on fee. When parents complain to us about private schools, we religiously ask them to enroll them in the state-run schools.”
Apart from fee issue, there is also the fear of a third wave, which is making parents wait. DK District Headmasters’ Association president Jayashree GS said many parents are worried over the prediction of a third wave that is likely to affect small children and are apprehensive.
The confusion over fee is also seeing a small number of students from private schools migrating to government school. An official from South Block added that children who earlier enrolled in private schools are now taking admissions in government schools.
