Interaction to curb donation menace held

Deputy Commissioner K Amaranarayan said instructions are sent to all schools following central syllabus, to take fees fixed under the Karnataka Education Act until a ruling is given by the Supreme Court and the committee formed by government finalises the fee structure.

He was speaking at an interaction between pro-Kannada activists and representatives of private schools, organised to curb the donation menace here on Wednesday.

Angry pro-Kannada activists alleged that private schools were collecting hefty donation from the students. They also vented their ire against a principal for not speaking in Kannada. Timely intervention of the deputy commissioner ensured that the meeting continued without any interruptions.

Legal advisor to St Francis School, A M Srinivasamurthy said that Centre was yet to formulate fees to be collected by ICSE and CBSE schools. So the schools don’t come under the purview of State Education Department.
Pro-Kannada activists said that while the schools use the State’s resources including land and water for the functioning of the school, how can they ignore the policies of the State.

St Francis School Principal Santhpal said that the school charges between Rs 3,000 and Rs 12,000 for admissions to montessori. Saying that it wasn’t donation, Santhpal said that it was being given by parents for the building development fund.

Much to ire of the activists, they asked the principal, “How are you running classes without construction of a building. How much money have you collected from parents till date?”

They demanded that stern action against those who have made education into a business.

Deputy Commissioner Amaranarayan said all schools in the district shouldn’t take donation under the name of building development fund.

If any school fails to adhere to the instructions, strict action will be taken against them, he added.

He also demanded that parents meeting be held every two months. Furthermore, he asked for the report to be sent to the district administration.

In the meeting, Deputy Director of Department of Public Instructions B A Rajashekar, pro-Kannada leader S Murali, C R Srinivasa Gowda, Market Girish, Sheshaprasad, C M Manjunathagowda, C K Manjunath, Chinnaswamy, Mahesh and G Purushottam participated.