Private Schools Increase The Transportation Rate By 30 Percent

Parents of children in private schools will have to spend more money this academic year to send their children to school. According to reports, several schools across the state have increased the transportation rate by up to 30 percent by 2019-20.

This means that as of June, parents will have to pay more to make use of the transportation provided by the schools. This, as expected, they have in arms against the administration of the school and are questioning the increase, while according to them, there have been no improvements in the facilities provided.

"We have no problem paying 30 percent more but let us know what the additional facilities are to justify the increase," said a father who sends his son to a CBSE-affiliated school in the city.

The problem has also led to heated discussions in social networks where parents are forming groups to approach schools and demand a backslide. Qualifying the trip as unscientific, some groups have met with school authorities and have requested that the measure be discarded.

"I wonder what the need for the walk was. The school must provide clarity about this. "If they have purchased new buses that comply with the security measures and other features recommended by the Government, then we will pay the additional amount, since safety is a priority," said another father.

The New Indian Express, through a few parents, discovered that schools have charged anywhere between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 60,000 for transport facilities for the 2018-19 academic year. The fee also depends on the distance to the school from the child's home. "When I asked the school, they said there were no improvements in the facilities, just an increase in the rate. No additional vehicles are implemented, but they want us to pay more or to abandon the children ourselves, "said one father.

However, schools are justifying the hike by saying there is no option since transport costs have increased. "It costs a minimum of Rs 1,500 per child to transport them from one place to another when they stay within a radius of 5 kilometers from the school. We have also had to increase the salaries of the driver and the assistant by 15%, "said D Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of the Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka.

By: Preeti Narula

Content: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/apr/26/private-schools-hike-transport-fee-by-30-1969153.amp