PARENTS SELECT SCHOOLS BASED ON PROXIMITY TO HOME

For parents, one of the top factors that influence the selection of a school for their children is its proximity to the residence. Parents send their children to poorly equipped schools mainly because they are close to the residence and the child does not have to travel much. A school which is within walking distance from home means avoiding the heavy traffic during rush hours, and saving on transport.

It is only when the child starts attending school that the poor facilities and lack of basic infrastructure start bothering them.

By then, it’s too late as getting the child readmitted to another school means an excruciating process, if not an impossible one.

“As per the rules, schools should rent out a playground and take the children there to play, which does not happen. The government appears to be apathetic about this too. There was an accident in a school where a preprimary girl died because of a faulty elevator. The authorities were completely oblivious to the horrific episode until we informed them and brought it to their notice,” said the Hyderabad Schools Parents Association joint secretary Venkat Sainath.

“The primary focus for any parent is on education rather than extra-curricular activities. As a working mother, I seldom get time to teach the kids or look after their academics when they come back home. I would opt for a school without playgrounds and other such amenities mainly because there would be more time for education and someone will be there to keep a tab on the child’s academic record. The fees in these schools are comparatively lower,” said Jaya Lakshmi, a working mother of two.

“My son has been in a school which has the best of the facilities for the past seven years but there has not been any significant change both study-wise or extracurricular activities wise. They allocate an hour or two for these games which cuts down the study time and ask us to keep an eye on their subjects at home, which is very hectic for any working mother,” said Ms Lakshmi.