Irked Naik takes principals and school teachers to task

Thane District Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik took representatives of various junior colleges to task for not attending the interactive session called by him on Friday at NMSA.
After arriving nearly two-and-half hours late for a meeting which was to begin at 9.30 am, Naik asked NMMC officials to read out the names of colleges, who did not send their representatives for the meeting. The college representatives were even asked to sign their attendance before the meeting began. Naik then instructed CIDCO officials to speak to authorities of those colleges who did not attend the meeting and seek an explanation.
Once again, Naik requested college authorities to consider the pleas of students from poor background. With an eye on the upcoming elections, Naik reiterated the same tune and insisted that educational institutions should give concession to needy and poor students. "I understand that running an educational institution is not easy, but they should try and reduce the amount for those who can not afford the high donations," he said.
Naik pointed at the increasing number of complaints from parents and students during the Janata Darbar and complained that some haughty principals from prestigious private institutes don't even look at the recommendation letters sent by him. "Are they above the system? They don't think it necessary to attend a meeting called by the guardian minister, civic chief and top police officials? Some schools behave like corporates and think in terms of profit and loss," he questioned.
He also urged principals to consider giving admission to poor students which is part of their social responsibility. "At times, authorities simply throw the request letters into dustbin. Many parents are unable to afford fees and hence they seek our help. Schools in Navi Mumbai who have received land from CIDCO at concessional rates must give preference to the sons-of-soil," he said. Civic chief Vijay Nahata pointed out at the number of freebies offered to students from impoverished backgrounds in NMMC schools and urged others to do the same