Latest news with #RKavitha
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
A costly affair, but pvt schools still cast a spell
Madurai: The state of govt-run schools may have improved in leaps and bounds, but it has not dampened the craze of a large section of people to opt for private schools for their wards. Many parents still hope to ensure quality education for their children in schools which they perceive to have superior infrastructure and better student-teacher ratio. However, studying in private schools comes at a cost which has only been going up every year, from fees to uniform, stationery, and 'recurring expenses' throughout the year. Indeed, there are regulations to prevent excess fee collections, but lack of awareness among parents, coupled with schools using loopholes increases the financial burden on parents who enrol their child in a private school. R Kavitha, a mother of two, recently got admission for her daughter in UKG at a private CBSE school in Madurai. She says the overall annual fees, along with additional expenses easily add up to Rs1 lakh. While the tuition fees was around Rs50,000, other expenses, from uniform, transport, special and extracurricular fees, pushed up the overall amount. "I never imagined that the school fees would go up so high in Madurai as in cities like Chennai or Coimbatore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo We decided it was the best CBSE school in our neighbourhood. We don't want to compromise so we are forced to pay," she said. S Jawahar said that his daughter who studies in Class VI in a private matriculation higher secondary school, often ends up paying little amounts throughout the year apart from Rs 70,000 as school fees. "For taking part in some activity or other, the school collects some money, even Rs1,000, if collected time and again, adds up to expenses. Transport fees are also increased 5%-10% every year," he added. P B Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System - Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), said Tamil Nadu Private Schools Fee Determination Committee fixes fees for each school under Tamil Nadu state board. "The committee can issue notice to any school that has not submitted a proposal with its expenses for fixing the fee. The fee structure also should be displayed in all the schools. Parents can come forward to file complaints in case of violations, but, they are often hesitant," he said. The fee determination committee also cannot fix the fee for private schools run under CBSE and other boards. A correspondent of a private school added that some private schools are pushing up fees arbitrarily as the committee can only fix tuition fees based on expenses submitted by the schools. "Every three years, the committee allows schools to raise fees by 10% if they submit a new proposal. The ideal way to regulate should be for a fixed upper limit overall that would include all expenses, not just tuition," he added.
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Supported by mom labouring abroad, tribal girl gets seat in IMU
CHENNAI: R Kavitha, a tribal student from the Malayali tribal community in Puliyampatti in Tiruvannamalai district, has secured a BTech seat in the Naval Architecture and Ship Building programme at the Indian Maritime University (IMU), Visakhapatnam. Ever since Kavitha lost her father, Rajapattu, while she was in Class 11, her mother R Poongodi has been supporting the family by labouring as a domestic worker in Kuwait. She completed her Class 12 as a student at the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Puliyampatti. Kavitha now lives with her grandmother Unnamalai, elder sister R Priya, and younger brother R Vignesh, a Class 7 student. 'My sister completed Class 12 two years ago but couldn't pursue college due to financial difficulties. After my mother left for Kuwait, she had to look after our brother too,' said Kavitha.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Distance education students stranded after Annamalai University reduces exam centres in Tiruchy
TIRUCHY: Thousands of students of Annamalai University's distance education programme are worried as the university has reduced the number of exam centres, ahead of the May 2025 semester exam. Around 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students are enrolled in the distance education programme. Until recently, the university conducted classes in 54 study centres and examinations in 35 centres across Tamil Nadu. Students could choose a centre that is near to them. However, a week ago, the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) of University Grants Commission (UGC) sent a letter to Annamalai University, based on which the university reduced exam and study centres to just four districts, namely Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, and Villupuram, which come under its direct regional jurisdiction. It may be noted that other universities have already restricted operations within their jurisdictions. With May semester exams scheduled to begin on May 19, students from faraway districts such as Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari will have to travel over 200-500 km to one of these centres to write the exam. Many students say this will severely impact their ability to complete their courses, particularly those who cannot afford long-distance travel or extended time away from work and family. As exams approach, students have started sending emails to university authorities requesting them to take steps to restore the earlier system. R Kavitha (name changed), a 34-year-old pursuing a BA Tamil, said, "The change was not just unfair but it was poorly communicated. We were never informed in advance. I stay in Sivaganga, but the nearest exam centre is in Mayiladuthurai, which is over 200 kilometers away. I cannot afford the travel and accommodation, nor can I leave my children alone for so many days." S Sankar, father of a female student and state president of Legal Awareness and Anti-Corruption Organisation said, "Many female students cannot travel long distances due to safety, financial, or family-related constraints. If a university is mandated to operate only within a narrow region, then students outside that zone should be given online options or transferred to other recognized universities." Annamalai university director for Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) Dr T Srinivasan, and Deputy Director for CDOE M Srinivasan were not available for comment. A senior officer in the university said, "We are complying with the DEB's directive, which limits our operations to the four districts under our jurisdiction. Students were notified through the official web site."
