Parents protest against school’s demand for ₹2 lakh deposit

More than 700 parents gathered outside Srimathi Sundravalli Memorial (SSM) School’s Perungalathur and Chromepet campuses on Friday to protest against a communication sent to them on Thursday. Parents said that the school had asked them to pay a caution deposit of ₹2,00,000.

The communication acknowledged that they had already paid a caution deposit of ₹20,000 and stated that the extra amount that needed to be paid was ₹1,80,000.

The school asked parents to communicate their decision before July 31 and said that those who did not wish to pay could pull their children out of the school at the end of the year. The transfer certificate (TC) would be issued to such students at the end of the current academic year. The information sought was required for the management to make the necessary arrangements for the next academic year, the communication said.

Chitra, a mother of two children, said that it was unfair to demand ₹2 lakh from those who are already students of the school. “We are here to protest and say that we won’t give in to their demand and pay the exorbitant caution deposit. There’s a question mark over our children’s future now,” she added.

Good facilities

Another parent from Chromepet conceded that the school does have good facilities, and parents have no complaints in terms of the education being offered, but added that it was unethical on the school’s part to put forth such a demand.

Chief Education Officer J. Angelo Irudayasami and a team of officials accompanied by St. Thomas Mount Deputy Commissioner of Police M.S. Muthuswamy held talks with the school management and agitating parents.

No solution in sight

But no solution could be arrived at. Parents were asked to submit their complaints to the CEO and the CBSE officials in Chennai, based on which action would be initiated against the school, said an official from the School Education Department.

Meanwhile, another circular issued by the school claimed that the management is disturbed by Friday’s events. It is contemplating two options–closing down both schools or transferring ownership to an individual or an institution to manage its affairs. When The Hindu contacted the school, a spokesperson claimed that a decision had been taken by the management and communicated to the parents.