Parents and students are in a fix as city schools shift from SSC to other boards
One of the major reasons for this shift is that schools use it to manage funds. School authorities revealed the state does not provide sufficient funds for the daily functioning of the school. And in addition, the fees of state-run schools are low. While, the minimum fees for ICSE programmes ranges from Rs one lakh to Rs six lakh per annum and CBSE schools charge fees ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 per month.
Parents and students are in a fix as schools are shifting to private boards from Secondary School Certificate (SSC) during this crucial time of admissions. State-run schools are starting Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) programmes in order to tackle the adversity of lack of funds.
Parents complained they do not know if they should admit their students in ICSE or CBSE board as their children have been studying the SSC board all this while. But large number of schools have started private boards so that they can admit students in the new curriculum from next academic year.
Recently, parents of Sharadasharam Vidyamandir School, Dadar and Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri protested over the decision of the school of starting private board. Rahul Movekar, a parent said, “We do not want to shift to a new curriculum suddenly as our children have been studying the SSC board curriculum from Class 1. Our children may not be able to cope up with this sudden shift and fees will be high too.”
While, schools claimed they are shifting to other boards as they want to upgrade, broaden facilities provided, widen scope of learning and change mode of education. But one of the major reason is that schools are using this shift to manage funds and functioning of school in terms of finances.
School authorities revealed the state does not provide sufficient funds for the daily functioning of the school. And in addition, the fees of state-run schools are low. While, the minimum fees for ICSE programmes ranges from Rs one lakh to Rs six lakh per annum and CBSE schools charge fees ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 per month.
Fees can be used for the benefit of students if the state is not bothered about fulfilling its duties claimed school authorities. A principal of a Bandra school, said, “The government is giving a deaf ear to the financial crisis which we are facing in all state-run schools. We are helpless as we cannot increase the fees in SSC schools. And then we have to manage all the expenses so by shifting to private boards we can at least increase the fees and use it for the betterment of students. The state government has forced us into this situation by their reluctant and cold behaviour.”