School demands fees for 1 year in advance, parents protest

The private primary school at Periyar Nagar in Kancheepuram with a student strength of nearly 700 reportedly demanded the parents to pay the fees for the entire academic year at the beginning itself. Sources said that the management used to collect the fees in three instalments throughout the year and the new system was put into place recently.

The students, mostly from middle-income families, were sent to the school even though the parents could not afford to pay the entire amount.

But the staff stopped the students who have not paid the fees at the entrance on the reopening day and sent them back. They were asked to return only after paying the whole amount.

On information, the parents gathered in front of the school to protest the management decision. The Vishu Kanchi police and the Education Department officials rushed to the spot and held talks with the parents and management. Later the school agreed to allow all the students inside and extended the date to pay the fees, too.

Following the incident, the traffic on the Kancheepuram-Chengalpattu road was affected for nearly two hours.