Hyderabad: The summer vacation has come as a speed-breaker for the education department’s inspections in schools in GHMC limits.

Nearly 162 schools have been shortlisted for carrying out checks, but authorities could hardly cover half of the schools since the drive commenced a few weeks ago. In this backdrop, authorities are likely to seek additional time to complete this process.

Due to summer holidays, teachers and office staff are not available and hence the school managements have sought additional time from inspection teams landing on their doorsteps. Besides education wing staff, an audit official has been made part of these teams to identify financial irregularities.

“We are asking information regarding fee structure, students’ strength, faculty salaries, expenditure, year of establishing etc. Almost all schools have sought time till reopening to furnish all information,” a senior official said.

The department had planned to complete the drive before June first week, but it has been ruled out now. The High Court is hearing this issue following a petition filed by the Hyderabad School Parents Association. The next hearing is in the first week of June and the court has sought a report on the 162 private schools.
Inspections were carried out in 12 private schools earlier.

Bro. Show Reddy, president of Missionary Schools Association, said the fee structure was very reasonable in these schools. An education wing official said that any amount collected in excess of Rs 5,000 at the time of admission amounts to violation of rules.