Govt schools to hike intake by 10 per cent, relief for lockdown-hit

Chennai

The heads of all schools have been instructed to increase enrolment based on the feedback that thousands of parents across the State are struggling to find money to pay the fees charged by private schools. “Though admissions have not started, we have instructed the headmasters to give oral assurance to the parents who approach seeking admissions for their children,” said a senior official from Directorate of School Education adding the schools were directed to maintain admission register to follow up these cases.

Officials and authorities from government schools said they are getting enquiries from several parents who are facing cut in salary or income – and some even losing jobs or livelihood. “Many private schools have started pestering the parents to pay fees immediately, as the managements are also struggling to pay salaries to staff. Therefore, parents who are unable to mobilise the money have started approaching government schools,” said the official.

There are about 45,000 government and aided schools in the State, which have a combined student strength of around 67 lakh from primary to higher secondary level. “We expect at least 10 per cent increase in new admissions this academic year,” he added.

Citing one example, Tamil Nadu Teachers Association president PK Ilamaran claimed that a government school in Kodungaiyur received at least 50 enquiries for new admissions in the last couple of weeks. According to him, primary and middle schools were getting more inquiries than high and higher secondary schools.

The case of K Radhakrishnan of Anakaputhur, who used to drive a taxi and auto-rickshaw for a livelihood, is one such. After failing to earn any income in the last three months, he knows that he would not be possible to pay the fees demanded by the private school where his daughter is studying. “I approached a government school in Pallavaram, and the management has assured a seat,” he said.

Though School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan had issued repeated warnings to private schools against seeking fees, the school managements have already begun contacting the parents. S Jaya, who works in a paint company at Nanganallur is one of the parents who has decided to send her son to a government school after facing a cut in salary.

Tamil Nadu Siru Thozhil Federation secretary S Muthurajan said small traders, petty shop owners, electricians, plumbers and those employed in small companies are the ones who have suffered the worst. “Most of them are unable to pay fees charged by the private schools,” he added.