It's just money that matters!

While a parent would have had to pay less than R5,000 to get their ward into a good school a decade ago, the ongoing rate is anywhere between a whopping R1 lakh to R5 lakh

While a parent would have had to pay less than R5,000 to get their ward into a good school a decade ago, the ongoing rate is anywhere between a whopping Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Sheetal Sukhija reports

It is that time of year when parents can be seen running from pillar to post, with creased brows, in the endeavor to secure a seat for their child at a good school.

However, a seat in a good school these days comes with a hefty price tag.

While a parent would likely have had to pay less than Rs 5,000 to get their ward into a good school a decade ago, the ongoing rate is anywhere between a whopping Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Shocked: The reporter speaks to parents and guardians, who had come to procure admission at Sophia High School

No bargain
Parents continue to bear the brunt as schools continue to 'fleece' them of their hard earned money. A parent, requesting anonymity, alleged that she had paid to get her child admitted in a well-known school in the heart of the city.

She said, "Agents have a commission arrangement with school authorities and they sold nursery class seats for Rs 4 lakh this academic year." When contacted however, the school authorities chose not to comment.

No so secret agents
In our mission to reveal the cogs that drive the donations for seats theme, we encountered a thriving business running on school admissions through payment of hard cash.

The want for seats in good schools has created a market for agents, who work on commission basis for each seat sold.

MiD DAY contacted one such agent who agreed to sell this reporter a seat for nothing less than Rs 5 lakh at a premium international school. Explaining his business, he said, "We earn all year round as people drop out of school midway and our maximum income comes from NRI families and families who've just moved to the city."

These agents usually target online forums where parents address their problems about school admissions and donations.

Commenting on the matter, Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri clarified, "There are rules in place and schools have to adhere to them. In case parents have complaints, they should address it through the right channel."

Show us the money
Even though one approaches through the right channel, it's money that matters the most. A parent said that they are all too aware that the answer to the question of how much donation they are willing to pay, is very decisive in securing a seat for their child.

"School interviews always include a simple question - how much donation can we pay," said the parent. This was a point that most parents agreed to. Many claim that an interview for a seat at almost every school, invariably ended if they quoted less that Rs 50,000 as donation.

Only 30% on paper
We first headed to a school on St Marks Road to investigate whether this was true. Over the years, this school has been the centre point of the donation controversy, always skirting the topic. This reporter spoke to some hopeful parents waiting to attend the second round of the admission interview.

"If you can pay anything above Rs 1 lakh, then your admission process would be smooth. They charge only
Rs 30,000 on paper, but ask for a huge sum under different categories," said K R Ramamurthy, a parent.
When contacted, the school authorities refuted the allegations.

'We don't accept it'
Some parents informed that the so-called categories include building fund, school infrastructure development and a few others were part of the donation.

Educationist M S Sridhar explains, "The situation has worsened in the last few years. I strongly believe that if a school has been built on a government land, like Bishop Cottons Boys School, then there is no need to collect donations. Yet amounts ranging between Rs 1 lakh and to Rs 3 lakh are still being collected, which middle class families cannot afford."

When contacted, principal of Bishop Cottons Boys School, John K Zachariah denied all allegations and said, "We don't charge any donation at all. We just ask for infrastructure development fees and that is completely legal. The ISCE board permits schools under their purview to demand any amount from the students."

Even we do not
Next, we headed to the Sophia High School where a group of parents awaited the fate of their respective wards outside the school.

"They don't ask for it openly, but subtly slip it in during the interview process. I had to pay Rs 75,000 to get my child into kindergarten two years ago. But I have to pay around Rs 1.25 lakh to get my second child into kindergarten now," claimed one parent requesting anonymity.

Authorities of Sophia High School too, denied the allegation.