In Pollachi, parents lodged a complaint at the collector's office against Sri Lathangi Vidhya Mandir Matriculation School for mandatory fee collection under RTE, discriminatory practices, and excessive fee demands.
Coimbatore: Parents of students at Sri Lathangi Vidhya Mandir Matriculation School, located near Kottampatty, Pollachi, have lodged a complaint to the Coimbatore District Collector, Kranthi Kumar Pati, demanding action against the school's alleged coercive fee practices. According to the complaint, the school, which operates under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, supposedly mandates lab class fees from RTE students and threatens non-admittance for non-payment.
The issue escalated to the district administration following reports that the school was forcing all students, including those enrolled under RTE, to pay a heightened educational fee disguised as book charges. Parents allege that during the 2022-23 academic year, a compulsory educational fee of ₹26,000, labeled as book charges, was collected, up from ₹11,000 the previous year.
Moreover, the complaint highlighted an alleged segregation in class seating, where RTE students are seated separately from other students, which reportedly contradicts inclusive education practices. Parents also urgently requested the shifting of the District Education Officer (DEO) office to Pollachi to better manage and respond to such educational grievances locally.
The school administration has not yet responded to these allegations. The case underscores ongoing issues related to fee structures and educational rights within private schooling frameworks.