In a blatant disregard for educational regulations, several prominent schools and junior colleges in Hyderabad are reportedly conducting prohibited admission and scholarship tests, exploiting students and parents for profit. This practice, explicitly banned under the Right to Education Act, has seen a significant surge in the last two years, with institutes charging hefty fees and turning the illegal activity into a lucrative business.
Parents Allege Widespread Exploitation and Stress
Frustrated parents in the city have come forward to highlight how these institutions are openly flouting the law. They claim that numerous leading institutes are organizing so-called 'talent' or 'scholarship' tests for students from classes 5 to 12, typically between October and December. Tens of thousands of children are subjected to these examinations annually.
The fee for participating in these banned tests ranges from ₹300 to ₹1,650, allowing institutes to mint crores of rupees. To lure parents, many offer attractive packages, including substantial fee discounts for high-performing students, thereby commercializing a prohibited practice.
"It looks like there is no end to these exams. Every institute is conducting its own talent or scholarship test. Children as young as 10 years are being put through unnecessary stress to excel in these exams and prove their worth," said Kishore BVK, a parent of a Class 12 student.
Another parent, whose 10-year-old son is Beemidi Pavan Reddy, pointed out the widespread ignorance of the rules and official inaction. "My nephew appeared for one such exam on Dec 14 for admission to class 11 at junior college. It is ridiculous to see how such an illegal practice is thriving and the govt is sitting on the sidelines as a mute spectator," he stated, adding that these tests are merely publicity stunts that must be stopped immediately.
Clear Rules Being Brazenly Ignored
The legal position on this issue is unequivocal. Rule 13 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act strictly prohibits any school or college from conducting screening procedures, including talent tests, olympiads, or admission tests for students. Reinforcing this, the State Human Rights Commission issued a directive in 2011 to the secondary school education department, urging a ban on all screening tests for admissions.
Despite this, the practice continues unabated. Some parents admit that the promise of financial benefits makes them complicit. "The institute promised a 100% fee waiver to meritorious students," shared M Srinivas, who paid ₹300 for a test his daughter took for intermediate college admission. He added that the test also promised an overall performance review to help choose a specialization.
Post-Pandemic Surge and Official Response
Education activists note a worrying resurgence of this illegal activity. Shabir Ali, President of the Telangana Private Teachers Forum, observed that while such tests by corporate institutes had reduced after complaints pre-pandemic, there has been a fresh surge since 2024. "Though they are blatantly putting up posters announcing the tests, no action is being taken against them," he lamented.
When contacted, education officials stated that directives are in place to prevent such violations. M Somi Reddy, Regional Joint Director for Hyderabad, said, "It is against the rules. We have asked District Education Officers (DEOs) to ensure that no institute conducts any talent or scholarship tests. If there are fresh complaints, we will look into the matter again and initiate appropriate action."
However, the gap between official policy and on-ground enforcement remains stark, leaving parents and students to navigate a stressful and exploitative system that prioritizes profit over lawful educational practice.
