Fees row: Now, Malad school bars around 300 kids from online education

Parents outside Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy school in Malad. They claim they were not allowed to go inside and meet the management but were greeted by bouncers.

In another case of parents and a school locking horns over fees during the pandemic, around 300 students from Malad's Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy school are suffering. These students have been removed from the online learning platforms for non-payment of fees. Their parents are now running from pillar to post for a resolution and have even approached the Education Inspector.

Financial crisis led by the pandemic has severely affected the education sector. In the past one year several issues related to school fees have surfaced. In this case, as school in Malad is now under the scanner of the Education Inspector after parents complained about the action taken against the kids. While parents are complaining that their children were removed from the online class because they have not been able to make full payment of fees but have paid in instalments; the school management has stated that action was taken against only those who have not paid the fees at all.

‘Results not given too'

"This is completely wrong. There are parents who have paid 70 per cent to 90 per cent of the fees. But action was taken against their children too. No parent is purposely delaying the fee and nobody is refusing to pay the full fee either. But the school management has to bear the delays in the current uncertainty that we all are facing," said a parent, adding that the school has not released results of all these students too.

When the school's new academic year began online from April, many students and their parents were shocked to see that they were removed from the online platforms. "We approached the school for clarity, but instead of having a discussion with us, we were greeted by bouncers at the gate. We have been trying to talk to school authorities for some time, but nobody is willing to give us time. Least the management can do is listen to the issues faced by parents, after all, our children are studying here for many years and there has not been any issue in the past," said a parent adding that parents have also complained to the education inspector, after getting no response from the school.

School speak

When contacted, Omprakash Deedwania, manager trustee of the school, said, "There are over 3,000 students and most of the parents have paid fees. These are just a few who are complaining. But the school had been patient. Even as these parents have not paid fees, there was no action taken against their wards through the academic year. The online school continued for these children, they appeared for exams too. But now we are beginning next academic year. Even as the school is online, the expenses have not reduced. Teachers and staff at our school are being paid full salaries. Nobody has been removed from the job."

300
No. of students affected