Parents, school face off over karate

A school in the education minister Vinod Tawde’s constituency has been allegedly forcing parents to pay '2,300 for compulsory karate classes. This has made parents of the students approach senior education officials to intervene in the matter.

St Francis School of Borivali has recently introduced karate in its curriculum and issued circulars to the parents only a day before the

commencement of the classes, asking them about the pay the fees and send their children for the extracurricular activity. The fee would cover classes over one academic year. Even though a large number of parents opposed the move, school officials moved to begin the classes in the middle of term exams, on Thursday afternoon.

In a circular issued for all the divisions of Classes five and six of St Francis High School ICSE board on June 30, the principal of the school informed the parents that they have introduced Karate as a regular activity in the school curriculum. It also stated that the activity would be conducted every Thursday for an hour from 12.45 pm to 1.45 pm. The principal, Wilfred Monterio, also informed the parents that since the school would not provide the facility to change into their karate uniforms, the children would need to come to school dressed in their karate uniforms.

The circular also claimed that the decision was taken by the PTA Core Committee meeting held on June 30.

A large number of parents, however, confirmed that not only were they completely unaware about the decision but they also strongly oppose the move as the school authorities are forcing them to pay for an extracurricular activity under the pretext of a new curriculum.

“We have been asked to pay Rs 1,440 as coaching fees and Rs 600 as uniform fees by the school. Strangely though, the school has been increasing its fees by at least Rs 4,000 every year and now we are forced to cough up additional amounts for an activity which should be optional,” said one of the parents.

As the activity commenced from Thursday, the children also appeared for their science exam the same day. Most of the parents pointed out that apart from being forced to take part in the activity, the timings of the activity is also an issue for the children. The parents have now approached B.B. Chavan, Maharashtra deputy director, education, to intervene in the matter since the principal has allegedly refused to budge to their requests to make the activity an optional one.

When The Asian Age tried to contact Mr Monterio and Jose Vallairia, Superior General of CMSF, they remained unavailable for comments.