Rourkela: "It is not that we are withholding the certificate for just... The fact remains that we don't have any other source of income other than fees," said Vinod P Daniel, principal of Saint Mary's School when he was asked why did the school withheld the certificates of two of its students by depriving them from pursuing higher studies.
The two students (sisters) Jayashree Singh and Bhagyashree Singh reportedly hail from Rio village under Kuarmunda block in Sundergarh district. Though they completed their 10th from the Saint Mary's School in Rourkela in 2017, they are yet to get their certificates as they allegedly failed to deposit the fee sought by the school for the same and it prevented them from taking admissions in college.
It is worth mentioning that both the Centre and the Odisha government have been making all efforts to encourage students for higher studies by announcing several scholarships. However, such an act of the school authorities in the name of fee has raised serious concerns about the implementation of government's priorities.
Without even a bit of regret, principal of the Saint Mary's School said, "Fees Ayega, Humara Routine Chalega."
The principal might be right, but the serious cause of concern is the growing 'commercialisation of education' in the country, especially in private institutions, which not only deprived the two sisters from higher education but also crushed their dreams.
As per latest updates, following media coverage of the issue, Saint Mary's School authorities have reportedly handed over the certificates to the two sisters.