Nine year old student locked up in room over non payment of fees

Chaitraly Deshmukh

While the Euro School case is still being chased by the parents, yet another case of tussle between parents and school was reported in Kharadi on April 11. 

This is third case being reported in Pune in the last few weeks where the tussle between parents and school management has come into the limelight. A Kharadi based school, Kothari International School had allegedly locked five students aged 9 year over non payment of fees. The children were refrained from access to their classroom and left to starve. 
The distressed parents had to seek help of the psychiatrist to bring back the child’s confidence and sought him admission in another school.

On the very first day of the school, fourth grade student Amir (name changed to protect the identity) was asked to sit separately in another room. Little did he knew that the ordeal had just begun when he was left to starve.  
The incidence took place on April 4 at Kothari National High School, a CBSE school.  Amir’s father is a software engineer who works in multi national company while his mother is a banking professional.

Amir’s father spoke to Pune Pulse, he said, “It was Amir’s first day at the school as the school had just re-opened for the new academic year. We have two children one was in Kothari school while younger one in another CBSE school.  The school fees is Rs 1.25 lakh but due to pandemic the school had started taking Rs 10,000 as monthly fees. They have a app on which we have to pay the fees as well as class information and other school information. I usually pay fees quarterly and accordingly I had to paid Rs 30,000 total fees from January to March.”

He further said, “In February I had planned to pay the fees but noticed that there was some technical glitch in the app due to which we were unable to pay as well as I confirmed with other parents too and personally visited school to clear it in February. The office bearer mentioned that it will be resolved. Later in second week of March the app was facing some issue I assume that it’s still a technical issue. For last four years my son is studying in same school but this is an inhuman act.”

Amir’s father recalls the whole incident, “As it was the first day, my son was very excited and happy as school had finally re-opened in new academic year. He had worn smart watch for his first day. But such happiness lasted till 10 am. As he was asked to pack his bag and was ask to sit another room and his bag was kept in a different room. He was made to sit in a huge room where there were toys which school calls as Exploring room. There were some toys and some different children who was like him seated. But around 10.30 am those children left the room and he was left alone. In the meantime his smart watch battery had drained.”

He alleged, “Amir had PT class he was not allowed to be part of it as well as he demanded his bags so that he can do something but he was not permitted. Around 1.20 pm I was called and inform about such incident. I rushed to the school and asked them to show me email communication or some message which mentioned that they had some fees due. I then confronted the staff and principal for such malpractice. This whole incident had left deep shock on my son as he was not even given food nor allowed to use washroom. The teachers and others were watching him but no one came to aid him. He is a brilliant student.”

He went on, ” Later next day I asked my son whether he would like to go to school he replied no. I had no other thoughts but to procure transfer certificate and take admission in another school. It’s almost a week still we haven’t come from that trauma. We are approaching counsellor to bring my child out of the trauma. For Rs 30,000 they have ruined my son’s life. They need to apologise in writing so that they don’t repeat this with other students.”

Social worker Surendra Pathare who came in to support of parents, spoke to Pune Pulse. He said, “I have too have got complaints against school as Amir was not the first student who was a victim but five parents came to us with similar complaints. The school authorities were adamant and claimed they can do so, as they have some high court order. Such act is against the rules of Right to Education act.”

When Pune Pulse tried contacting the administration of the school but none of the calls were answered.