Protests broke out in at least three educational institutions in the city on Saturday in three separate and unrelated incidents.

In a school in Coles Park, parents and students were left infuriated when the management told them that 32 children admitted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act quota would have to leave the school as it had been declared a minority institution.

A parent said there were 16 seats reserved for the RTE quota in the school and 32 students had been admitted over two years.

“But they got the minority status two years ago and did not admit any more students under the quota. Now, they are saying that even those students who have been admitted then [under RTE] have to leave,” he said.

Ponnuraj V, Commissioner for Public Instruction, said the issue had not been brought to his notice yet, but did admit that many schools were taking minority status to avoid implementation of the RTE Act.

“But they cannot ask those children to leave,” he added.

In another school in Whitefield, nearly 500 parents and their students continued their protest against the hike in tuition and transportation fees. “Parents were paying Rs. 45,000 for children in the first grade four years ago. Now, the same seat costs Rs. 82,000,” said a parent of a student of the CBSE-affiliated school.

Students and parents protested against the management of Vogue Institute of Technology.

Students of BSc. in interior designing and MBA said their courses were affiliated to the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), derecognised by the University Grants Commission.

“I have only written exams for the first two semesters. No exams were held for the next two. The college has our documents and money, which we want so we can find better colleges,” said a student.

Official admits that schools are taking minority status to avoid implementing RTE Act