Who moved my school?

In what appears to be an emerging trend, several schools located in the city are either relocating their entire campus to suburbs or are shifting their primary school facilities to bigger campuses in other areas. While administration blames it on the exorbitant real estate rates, parents lament they are forced to relocate closer to the schools. 

The iconic The School KFI located in Besant Avenue in Adyar is relocating to Thazhambur, which is two kilometres from Navalur junction on Old Mahabalipuram Road in 2018. This is after the current lease expired. In their website, the school management has said, “We appeal to all well-wishers to participate generously in our efforts towards the continuation of this significant educational work. We have raised sufficient funds for purchase of land. We need funds for construction of classrooms, laboratories, library, assembly hall, dining hall and other facilities, and development of the new campus with green technologies such as solar panels and grey water treatment.”  

Not just KFI, KC High School is also moving from Kotturpuram to a bigger campus in a gated community at Navalur, Olympia Panache. Besides, there are several schools like PSBB Millennium School from GST to Gerugambakkam, HLC international School (from Kottivakkam to OMR) APL Global School (from Okkiyam-Thoraipakkam to Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram Radial Road) and BVM Global (from Perungudi to Rajiv  Nagar) who are moving their primary section to other places. “The simple reason is that there is no space available in the city. Even individual houses are converting into apartments. The number of students in schools around the city is only increasing. For better facilities like bigger playgrounds and spacious classrooms, managements are forced to relocate to suburbs,” says educationist Madhuvanthi Arun. School managements say with the  government enforcing a cap on the fees and the rise in real estate costs, they have no choice left but relocate to a place where the land is cheaper. “Our school is situated in a small location. We need to expand. At the end of the day, it is a business and we need to make money to facilitate the infrastructure. With the regulations in the fees structure, we can’t charge more. So the only option is to move the primary section away from the city. Yes, there are designated school zones but most of the time, it is not given to educationists at a subsidised rate to run a school. Also, in many cases when the lease expires, people are hesitant to extend it, as building something commercial in prime property will get them more money,” says a management member of a school in Kodambakkam, who doesn’t wish to be named. 

With the campuses shifting, parents are worried about the transportation as the kids have to travel longer distances. Some parents have started moving to the areas that are closer to the school. “The new campus of my five-yearold child is 12 kilometres away. Travelling to and from it will take an hour and that can be stressful for him. On the other hand, he has made friends in this school. We hare considering the option to move near the school as it will save a lot of time,” says Anjana Kumar, a parent. 

“We have informed the parents well in advance and there were many concerns raised by parents. We have assured them that we will take all the necessary steps for the convenience of the students before moving the campus in the next academic year. We plan to start the day earlier and wrap up early so that we beat traffic at both hours. Transportation will be arranged by the school and we will also give snacks and lunch at the cafeteria so that the parents do not have to worry about the food,” says Sindu Suneel, Deputy Head at KC High. 

Educationists suggest that the concept of neighbourhood schools must be promoted by the parents. “If you look at it, a student goes to  school in a yellow bus, then to college in a yellow bus and also to work in a yellow bus. Where does he/she have time to live life as most of his or her time is taken up in travelling. Travelling long distances can be very stressful for the children as well as for the parents. When the jallikattu protests started, some of the school buses were stuck for hours and children reached home three to four hours late,” says Maalathi K R. CEO, Auuro Educational Services, further adding, “The concept of neighbourhood schools must be promoted among parents. They should realise that sending their wards to a particular school will not change the future of the child and they can instead send their children to a good school close-by.”