Parents worried over HC order

Parents reacted in surprise and disappointment to the Bombay High Court order that has upheld the right of school and college managements to shut down their institutions, given “reasonable restrictions”.

Parents reacted in surprise and disappointment to the Bombay High Court order that has upheld the right of school and college managements to shut down their institutions, given “reasonable restrictions”.

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“I have not seen the order but if this is so then we must protest,” said Jayant Jain, president of the All India Federation of Parent-Teachers’ Associations.

“If the government allows this then plots of land reserved for education will be either be sold off for larger amounts or managements will construct other profitable businesses instead of schools.”

Arundhati Chavan, president of the Parent Teacher Association United Forum, said this will make parents insecure and students’ educational fate uncertain.

“It will not be possible to get admission suddenly elsewhere. If managements want to shut down schools then the reason should be valid and the process gradual.”

Chavan cited the cases of Hindi Vidyalaya and Rajendra Pal Mangala High School in Thane where the managements wanted to close down and set up a housing complex and mall respectively on the land instead.

Schools stayed open following protests by parents. Earlier this year, classes at the New Era School, Gowalia Tank, were put on hold after the management alleged the school building was not safe to continue being used.

But school managements have their own perspective.

“Education has to be increasingly seen as a business in itself. Rather than serving poor quality education the management should have a right to shut down its institution,” said Leena Ashar, chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education

Limited that started the Billabong schools franchise.

“As long as students are taken care of, it seems reasonable from my point of view as a management person.”