Various city based schools observe Bandh on Friday

Hyderabad: Majority of private schools including those affiliated to CBSE remained closed on yesterday after the statewide Bandh was called by Telangana Recognised School Management Association (TRSMA).

Not only private schools with budget-friendly fee structure but also schools like Glendale Academy, Kalpa, Future Kids, Chirec, Slate, Kennedy was among various others that remained closed in the city in support of the association, TOI reported.

The association’s demands include providing financial aid (Rs 30,00 0) to each and every student, health cards and 2BHK houses for teachers working in private schools, exempting existing schools from submitting fire, traffic and other NOCs (no objection certificates) for issuing ETR’s (extension of temporary registrations), among others.

“Of the 10,000 private schools in the state, 90% remained closed today. Apart from the bandh, school managements also organized a dharna in front of the Commissioner and Directorate of School Education (C&DSE) office, where about 5,000 school owners participated. About 500 of us were picked up by cops and moved to Ramgopalpet police station,” said S Madhusudhan Reddy, president, TRSMA, Hyderabad.

He added that they have also decided to talk to parents to make them aware of the reality the teachers are going through.

Authorities should give a patient hearing to the protestors and resolve their issues so that academics are not affected by Bandhs.

“Though most of the schools and parents extended support, a few corporate schools and parents of students studying in big schools were not happy with our bandh call. However, we timed this bandh such a manner that students could use it as prep holiday,” Reddy said.

With many schools struggling with recognition and their deadlines for renewals, schools who supported the bandh said it is important to take a decision on the ETR issue immediately as the future of thousands of students is in jeopardy.

“About 1,000 schools, who have been running for more than a decade, were not given ETR this year. About 50,000 students, who have to appear for Class 10 exam, have been left in a limbo as the government has asked officials concerned to not register students from schools without the ETR for examination. A decision needs to be taken immediately as schools cannot be forced to follow the rules that came into existence years after they were established,” said Amar nath V, Slate School chairman.