In Karnataka, school drags 25 kids out of exams for 50% unpaid fees

MANDYA: Barely a week after the Karnataka high court barred any coercive action by the government or schools over payment of less school fees in the wake of the pandemic, a private school in Mandya allegedly disrupted ongoing mid-term exams and made around 25 students stand outside for paying only 50% of the fees.
Parents alleged that the school management took away the answer scripts in the middle of the examination for Class 10, saying they had paid only half the school fees.
Students were humiliated and made to stand outside the school premises for hours, they said.
As news spread, parents and pro-Kannada activists rushed to the school, located on the outskirts of Kirangur village near Srirangapatna.
Heated arguments ensued between the two sides as parents accused the school officials of flouting government circulars on reduced fees payment and harassing kids.
‘Notice will be issued to school management’
Finally, the management agreed to allow the students to write the exam, asking parents to pay the full fees later.
“As an immediate measure, a notice will be issued to the school management over the incident,” Srirangapatna block education officer (BEO) Anant Raj said.
He added that legal action must be taken against the school as the state government has strictly asked schools not to open for Classes 1 to 6.
“Strict penal action must be taken after consulting with the deputy director of public instruction (DDPI),” he said.