School's kicking our children out, says Parents

Pedder Road's Activity School, which had given admission to two siblings on humanitarian grounds years ago, has this year asked their parents to pay their fees if they want them to continue studying at the ICSE-board institute.

Parents of the two children. who cleared Class III and senior kindergarten this year, alleged that the school wants to kick them out because their mother, who worked with the housekeeping staff at the school, was sacked over a medical leave.

Manish Vinjuda, father of the two boys, Harsh and Devang, said the school is not ready to continue providing complimentary education to his two children because of his wife's record.

"My firstborn, Harsh, was admitted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act in 2012. I haven't paid his fees ever." He claimed that during the admission, he had written to the school seeking admission under RTE, and appended his pay slips as proof of income.

Vinjuda said that when he approached the school to admit his second child, Devang, the school offered his wife, Jyoti, a job. He claimed this was a condition for the admission. "But last October, when Jyoti asked for a 15-day leave due to health issues, they told her to quit and take the children as well." Vinjuda said he has approached Yuva Sena.

A school official said, "Our advocate has sent a letter to Vinjuda against the baseless allegations. The school has also replied to Yuva Sena as the parents have misguided them with false information as well. 

Harsh was given admission on temporary basis, on humanitarian grounds, not through RTE. The parents had promised that they would pay the fees. During Devang's admission, Jyoti requested for a job so that Devang also gets free education. Last year, she stopped coming to school claiming she was unwell. The school is not forcing the children out. We have not removed Harsh from school yet. The school has already given free education to Devang in pre-school. They can pay the fees and continue the education."