Tirupur school accused of seeking Rs 20,000 for RTE seat

The boy, Gandhiji, studying Class 1 was not allowed to attend class on Tuesday for not paying his fees. His father Palanikumar, an activist from Angeripalayam in Tirupur, was asked by the school management to pay Rs 20,000 as fees for the boy to continue his education. 

Condemning this, Palanikumar and his son along with others staged a protest in front of the school. The boy held a slate (in Tamil) urging the school to allow him inside to learn. 

Palanikumar said though his son had been admitted under the RTE scheme, the school is demanding fees and alleged that RTE is not implemented anywhere properly and there is no monitoring by officials of the Education Department. The boy had completed his LKG and UKG in the same school. 

The management, however, refuted the charge and claimed it only asked money for the books issued and extracurricular activities, which isn’t covered under the RTE scheme. Tirupur district Chief Education Officer S Shanthi said the boy has been studying under the RTE scheme and the school was demanding fees only for the books and skill development activities. 

“We are ready to arrange for his admission in any school of his choice in adherence to RTE norms,” she said.