Hyderabad Parents Stage Protest Over Steep School Fee Hike
In a significant demonstration of discontent, parents of students at Hyderabad Public School Ramanthapur organized a protest on campus this Friday. The protest, which commenced around 7 am at the main gate and later moved towards the principal's office, was sparked by allegations of a steep and unjustified fee hike. Parents voiced strong concerns over what they described as "miscalculations" in the revised fee structure, highlighting a growing financial burden on families.
Parents Detail Unaffordable Fee Increases
According to the protesting parents, discussions with the school management have been ongoing for over a year. One parent explained, "We were informed there would be a 10% increase over three years, which we agreed to. However, the current hike far exceeds that promise. Fees have surged from approximately 93,000 to 2.01 lakh, representing a nearly 120% increase over the past four years. This is becoming unaffordable for many families." This sharp rise has raised alarms about accessibility to quality education.
Additional Concerns Over Fee Jumps and Lack of PTA
Parents also pointed out that students transitioning from primary to middle school last year already experienced a fee jump of nearly 35%, followed by another increase this year. Another parent emphasized, "There has been an absence of a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for seven years. Any fee revision should occur after consulting with parents. There is no clarity on the formation of a PTA, which is necessary to discuss such critical issues." The lack of parental involvement in decision-making processes has fueled frustration among the community.
Expert and Management Responses
Commenting on the issue, Venkat Sainath, president of the Hyderabad School Parents Association, stated, "Such steep and frequent fee hikes are unjustified and place an undue burden on parents. Any revision must be transparent, gradual, and conducted in consultation with parents." In response to the allegations, board member Gusti Noria defended the fee revision, saying it was necessary to keep pace with inflation and maintain quality. He noted, "The fees include high-quality food and support modern infrastructure, pedagogy, academics, and activities. We are not a profit-driven institution," while denying any prior agreement on limiting hikes to 10% over three years.
The protest underscores broader issues in education affordability and governance, as parents call for more accountability and dialogue in fee-setting processes.
