Parents protest against Narayana school for flouting rules

Hundreds of parents converged at Narayana E-Techno School and PU College at Mallathahalli on Sunday morning, demanding answers from the management for what they said was its “violation” of government rules on running an educational institution. The result was bedlam that lasted for two hours.

The Narayana group, which runs 14 institutions across Bengaluru, had opened this school at NGEF Layout in Mallathahalli two years ago. It obtained permission from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to run a Kannada-medium school till class 5, but its high school and pre-university college are not recognised. And on top of that, it runs an English-medium school, angry parents alleged.

The local Jnanabharathi police rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the parents. Later, a meeting between parents and the management was held.

Parents learnt about the violations only recently and had a showdown with the management. They wanted the management to come clean. At the meeting, the group’s deputy general manager, one Raju, produced some documents and claimed the management had permission to run English-medium school. “Those documents were fake and we were angry with him for misleading us. Then he admitted to cooking up a story and said that the group didn’t have permission to run the school,” Kumar, a parent, told Deccan Herald.

Some parents accused the group of hiring goons and local politicians to silence those who spoke out against its illegalities. “The management took Rs 10,000 each from some parents by promising them nursery seats, but failed to keep its word. It has not even refunded our money. We will make a complaint to the police,” said Venkatachala, another parent who claimed to paying the money.

When contacted, Raju conceded the management had permission to run only a Kannada-medium school till class 5. “We have sought permission from the CBSE, which is likely to be granted in two months. The CBSE has already inspected the school,” he claimed but evaded reply when asked whether the medium of instruction was English.

He then struck a defiant note, saying more than 90 per cent school managements violate norms and run English-medium schools illegally. “Why is only our school being targeted,” was his refrain.

Parents called off the protest after the management promise to comply with rules in two months.

“Parents are anxious but nobody has made a complaint to us. If anybody does, we will register a case and investigate,” said a police officer.