Now Reading: Hyderabad schools flout name ban, PE buyouts spark fee and quality concerns
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Hyderabad schools flout name ban, PE buyouts spark fee and quality concerns
Hyderabad schools flout name ban, PE buyouts spark fee and quality concerns
More than 600 schools in Hyderabad and Rangareddy still use banned labels such as 'Model' and 'International' in their names, 17 years after a state government order, a Times of India analysis…
The Story in Brief
More than 600 schools in Hyderabad and Rangareddy still use banned labels such as 'Model' and 'International' in their names, 17 years after a state government order, a Times of India analysis of official data shows. The order was meant to stop schools from misleading parents and charging high fees. Separately, parents say private equity (PE) acquisitions of schools have led to fee hikes, poor teacher quality and unresponsive management. In Telangana, about 10 family-run schools have been bought by PE funds, with some charging over Rs 10 lakh a year. Similar complaints have come from other cities, the India Wide Parents Association said.
The Indian Opinion
The debate over school names and PE ownership reveals a deeper issue: parents are being sold a brand, not an education. The government's 2009 order has been flouted for years, showing weak enforcement. Meanwhile, PE firms are entering a sector meant for non-profit societies, and fees are soaring without guaranteed quality. The real test will be whether the Telangana education department can enforce its own rules and whether the government will regulate PE acquisitions in education.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
