24-06-2025
SC & ST students under BASS stopped from attending classes: 25,000 affected as schools await govt dues; managements warn of imminent closure
HYDERABAD: Despite the reopening of schools on June 12 for the new academic year, SC and ST students who were admitted to private schools under the Best Available School Scheme (BASS) are not attending classes, as the school managements have stopped them from coming to school due to unpaid fees.
Speaking at a press conference in the city on Sunday, members of the Best Available School Management Association in Telangana stated that they would only allow the 25,000 affected students from the 237 participating schools to resume classes once the govt has cleared the outstanding fees from the past two years.
"We have been waiting for over two years now, and some even longer. Now, most of the managements do not even have the money to cover the day-to-day running costs of the schools.
We are unable to survive. We have no option but to stop children from attending classes. At least this way, we can demonstrate the difficulties we are facing in running schools," said Y Shekar Rao, general secretary of the association. He said that he has pending dues of 3 crore from the govt.
Of the 237 schools implementing the BASS scheme, he stated that at least 200 are on the verge of closure as they were unable to pay building rent, loan interest and power bills and other expenses.
"Many of us did not even open schools due to a lack of funds to run residential schools. The moment we open, we have to provide for all the children's needs, including food. This is the first time we have not resumed classes on the first day of reopening," said M Linga Reddy, who has implemented the BASS scheme for 12 years and is waiting for dues of 4.17 crore from the govt.
