Education dept to act against Orchid School after parents stage protest

BENGALURU: The Education Department has issued a notice to Orchid School in Nagarbhavi after parents alleged that the school was collecting fees claiming to be a CBSE-affiliated school, but issued a circular stating that exams for Classes 5-8 will be conducted as per state syllabus.

The DDPI Bylanjanappa issuing instructions to the BEO to initiate action against the school.

On Tuesday, hundreds of parents gathered at the school demanding that the management clarify the issue. On Wednesday, Deputy Director of Public Instruction Bylanjanappa visited the school and inquired with the school authorities even as hundreds of parents continued their protest, demanding answers. The DDPI said the school has been issued a notice and based on the reply, further action like cancellation of permission will be taken.

The parents even took the DDPI to task alleging that the officials took bribes and allowed the school management to cheat parents. The private school lobby is in cahoots with the officials, they charged.

The DDPI holding discussions with the new school principal Manjula and some of the parents.

“If they are going to conduct classes as per state syllabus, we might have as well put our children in government school rather than fork out hefty annual fees”, said one parent. Another parent said, “We have been paying fees for CBSE education for the last five years. Now how will they refund us the difference amount?”

Parents venting their anger against the school management.

The mother of a child said, she had to even pledge her mangalasutra to pay the school fee. “We already faced a lot of difficulty during the pandemic. The school is cheating us. Students of Orchid School, Nagarbhavi, are being marked out when they apply for admission in other insitutions. We pay the fees promptly despite our difficulties and. What is the fault of our children?” she questioned.

Bylanjanappa told Public TV, “When our Block Education Officer, South-1, and team visited the school, it was found that the school has state recognition, but was offering CBSE education. A notice was issued to the school in this regard, but the school has maintained that they are following state syllabus and given so in writing, but claimed that they were using some books were of CBSE syllabus to enhance the learning of students”.

DDPI Bylanjanappa stated that the department will take steps to cancel the recognition granted to the school.

To a question on whether the Education Department officals were turning a blind eye to the goings on, the DDPI rejected it and said action will be taken against the school based on the complaints from parents. “We will take action as per rules. I have already given written instructions to the BEO to initiate appropriate action”, he said. The department will also take steps to revoke the affiliation in the coming days, he added.

He also said parents and students need not have any sort of anxiety. “The academic activities will continue as per the state board syllabus”, he added.