Playschools or pre-schools in the city are charging exorbitant fees, around Rs 37,000 per annum, while not delivering what they promise and the state government, which had earlier announced that it would regulate the mushrooming pre-schools, has failed to control them.
Pre-schools in areas like Banjara Hills, Sainikpuri, Madhapur, Tarnaka and Kukatpally charge around Rs 50,000.
Irrespective of the academic year, admissions are made round the year in these schools and many parents complain that these expensive play-schools are not delivering what they promise.
For instance, a pre-school at Sainikpuri charges Rs 37,000 for registration and tuition fee. Parents, however, have to pay for the nursery kit comprising bag, apron, cap, uniform, escort card and extra books for the play group.
Sources say that some schools even give inaugural offers with discounts. The range of concessions for play groups are more if parents pay a pre-registration fee for admission into nursery.
Preethi Jain, a 30-year-old resident of A.S. Rao Nagar said, “Many a times my three-year-old daughter has complained about the maids at the day care.
They had warned her not to visit the toilets frequently as they had to clean it. They don’t even give her a wash after meals; due to this skin rashes has occurred near her mouth and hands.”
Child rights activist P. Achyutha Rao of Balasangham said, “There is no control on them by either Women and Child Welfare or the Education department.
The government should regulate these pre-schools. Only trained teachers and aayahs should be employed...
The fee structure is also abnormal. In some places it is around Rs 50,000. Most of them also do not have security and there are chances of abductions.”