As offline classes resume, hike in school transportation charges burdens parents

The resumption of offline classes is burning a hole in the pocket of parents of schoolgoing children, courtesy a significant hike in transportation charges, which several Delhi-NCR schools have raised by up to 30 per cent.

While parents said that schools consider it an extra source of income, some principal said they can't help it as "the diesel prices have gone up exorbitantly . Delhi Parents Association (DPA) President Aprajita Gautam said many schools are increasing transport charges to double or triple of what they are supposed to as they are considering it a source of extra income".

"Now, instead of opting for this unaffordable option parents are using other alternatives like car pooling or private cabs, as transportation fees are adding financial burden to the already suffering middle class," she said.

Several parents claimed that schools were not charging any transportation fees when classes moved online in view of the pandemic, but now when offline classes have resumed, the charges are much higher than the pre-lockdown rates.

"The schools are citing that the transportation costs have gone up and they are helpless but what can parents do. My wife is also working so we cannot drop and pick children ourselves and school transport is the safest option but it's a high cost now," said Rudra Dutt.

He, however, refused to divulge the school name his two children go to.

Rishu Dhingra, another parent in Gurgaon, said, "Schools have increased transportation costs as have private transporters. What choice do parents have? Also, schools have not increased the tuition fees in the past two, years and they will do that too now."

The principal of a top private school said on the condition of anonymity that "diesel prices have gone up exorbitantly and we have had several rounds of negotiations with the transporters who have refused to match the earlier prices".

Another top private school principal said, "The situation has changed considerably in the past two years both in terms of supply chain and economic viability. It's not fair to be expecting the same prices from transporters especially in view of the exorbitant price rises. We understand parents' concerns too, but we have tried to keep the hike as low as possible."

Schools in Delhi-NCR were closed in March 2020 ahead of a nationwide lockdown in view of the coronavirus. While schools reopened in phases later, the children were supposed to attend offline classes only with parents' consent.

"I did not send my kid then because schools were not providing transport as not many children were coming so it was not economically feasible to send buses for a few kids. Now when online closes have been suspended, transport is being provided but the prices have gone really high," said Saransh Sharma, a Dwarka resident.