Latest news with #TelanganaRecognisedSchoolManagementsAssociation
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Fee hike: Schools sell properties, lease them back, reveals I-T probe
Hyderabad: Investigation by the income tax (I-T) department, under the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, has revealed a disturbing pattern behind rising school fee in Hyderabad. Officials found that several educational trusts and societies sold their land and buildings to commercial and foreign entities and continued to operate by leasing back the same infrastructure. The shift from owner-operated campuses to rental models significantly increased operational costs, which are now being passed on to parents through steep tuition fee hikes. Rental Burden Behind Fee Escalation You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad An official of the education department said, "Once the infrastructure is sold, the school trust becomes a tenant, incurring substantial rental and maintenance charges imposed by the new owners. These commercial entities, particularly foreign investors, seek quick returns on their capital, placing financial pressure on schools. The additional costs are ultimately covered through increased school fee." In Hyderabad, in the past few years, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other foreign-based firms reportedly acquired schools whose assets were worth between 500 crore and 1,500 crore. Venkat Sainath Kadapa, general secretary, Hyderabad School Parents' Association, said, "Trusts and societies are supposed to be non-profit. When there are huge transactions involving hundreds of crores of rupees with foreign entities, these transactions must be scrutinised. The govt should revoke the not-for-profit status in such cases. All the burden is being placed on children. Many schools are being taken over and, as a result, fee is hiked every year. When news comes out, the govt pretends to act, but then the fee goes up again. There are schools now charging between 4 lakh and 8 lakh per annum even for LKG. Some schools collect as much as 23 lakh. The I-T authorities should focus on cashless transactions by schools. The audited reports of these societies must be made public." Parents Bear the Impact as Fees Rise This emerging model has drawn criticism from parents and education activists. The Hyderabad School Parents' Association had earlier alleged the diversion of school revenues to shell firms and the involvement of foreign private equity. With mounting operational expenses, the Telangana Recognised School Managements Association (TRSMA) has sought approval for a 15% annual fee hike.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Telangana private school teachers face admission target heat
Hyderabad: Even before the summer vacation began, teachers working in private schools in the city and elsewhere in the state received their admission targets for the coming academic year. Teachers said they would be forced to canvass in the scorching heat as admissions are linked with the continuation of their jobs for the next academic year and their April and May salaries. "My school set a target of nine admissions this year. While we are going canvassing for half a day now, once the summer vacation starts, we have to go in the morning and evening," said G Venkanna, who has been teaching chemistry for class 9 and class 10 for 16 years. He said that the school management made it clear that they will not pay salaries to teachers if they fail to meet targets. "We cannot skip canvassing as the management monitors our activity by seeing our location, which we have to share with them," he added. Along with their health, teachers said that they are losing respect in society as they are forced to talk to parents, asking them to enrol their children in their school. "A majority of private schools are indulging in this practice. We have no option except to follow their instructions as schools are threatening to discontinue our services if we do not get new admissions. They are also withholding salaries of teachers," said Telangana Private Teachers Forum president Shabir Ali. Managements, meanwhile, said that they have no option except to send teachers to canvass for new admissions to survive in this competitive market. "Even the govt is sending teachers to get new admissions in the name of the 'Badi Bata' programme. How can they have different rules for private and govt schools?" questioned a member of the Telangana Recognised School Managements Association , adding that parents only enrol their children when a teacher goes to their home instead of a marketing agent.
