Coimbatore: Parents may have to loosen their wallets as private schools plan to increase transportation costs collected from students, given the increase in fuel prices.
Schools say they can increase costs at least 25%.
While some schools have been reopened on Monday, many plan to reopen next week after the Diwali vacation.
Many schools are ready with their vehicles and make arrangements for drivers to operate the bus, but they find it difficult to run by collecting costs available before the pandemic.
Samson Selladurai, the principal of Nava Bharat International School, said about 75% of students in the use of school 11 school buses to school reach.
“We charge around Rs 1,600 per month from a student as a bus fee.
But we cannot run the bus by collecting that the charge with the current fuel price.
So, the increase of 25% is expected, “he said.
Administrators from Sai Vidya Niketan School Matrikulation, Mathampalayam, said the school encouraged parents to take and drop their children and school bus transportation avoiding.
“In the last 18 months the price of fuel has increased by 25%, so we have no choice but to increase transportation costs by 25%.
We currently cost Rs 10,000 per year from students and may go to Rs 12,500, “Administrator said, adding that the government must relax costs collected at the RTO office and provide concessions at insurance costs for school vehicles which range from Rs 40,000 – Rs 60,000.
Another point said one of the buses they have to run 6km extra to take students.
“We cannot fill up only one student.
We can compensate that in some places we take 10-20 students.
However, if the price of gasoline crosses RS 110, we may have to increase transportation costs by 30%, “said the principal.
Last month, a total of 1,226 school buses from all 230 private schools in the district were examined by regional transportation officers and officials from the district government.
The school is in the process of deciding new drop points and pickup points for the bus and hiring support staff to accompany children on the bus.
Schools, who have asked for drivers to get themselves employed elsewhere during the pandemic driver, also expect to return to their old job.