Pay Rs 15,000 for moving your child to another school

Delhi schools refuse to allow students to shift without paying for teachers' arrears

Having accomplished mission admission, parents are now facing hurdles in getting transfer certificates issued from various schools in the Capital.

Parents who have been trying to shift their wards to other schools have been asked to pay up to Rs 15,000 towards semester and transport fee.

However, parents allege that the money is being asked for enhanced salaries of teachers. After the implementation of the sixth pay panel directives with retrospective effect, schools owe teachers a lot of money.

PC Pandey, a PSU employee, claimed he was asked to pay Rs 10,000 when he sought a transfer certificate to shift his son Ujjwal, studying in Class 2, from Ramagya School, Noida. The school said the money was due towards semester and transport fee.

"It is very unfortunate that schools have been making such unreasonable demands. My son won't even avail the services we are being asked to pay for. I tried to complain at several forums but nobody responded positively," Pandey said.

After long negotiations Pandey paid Rs 2,500 and got his son's transfer certificate issued.

Another couple, wishing not to be named, claimed that when they went to collect the transfer certificate for their child studying at Air Force Bal Bharti School they were asked to pay Rs 15,000. When enquired about the details, the school authorities said the money would be required to pay teachers' arrears.

"Schools are aware that transfer certificate is an important document for getting admission in some other school. So they have their own say," the couple said.

Despite repeated attempts, the principal of Air Force Bal Bharti School could not be reached for a comment.
Noted lawyer Ashok Agarwal said, "Such practices are unjustified. No school is authorised to stop transfer certificate or report card of any student. By not issuing the certificate the schools are hurting the future of the children."

"The fees in Delhi schools are already high. I don't think they need to ask for more money to pay teachers," added Agarwal.