Fake St.Ann’s School at Kushaiguda? Property seized after protest

Hyderabad: Is St. Anne’s School in Kushaiguda a legitimate educational institution or a calculated attempt to mislead parents by mimicking a reputed name?

This question has been haunting dozens of anxious parents after the school was found to be operating under a name closely resembling the reputed St. Ann’s School, sparking allegations of fraud and a full-blown investigation by local authorities.

What began as a routine admission process has now unravelled into a controversy over naming manipulation, false affiliations and potential regulatory violations, raising serious questions about oversight in the private education sector.

Misleading name triggers confusion

The school, officially registered as ‘St. Anne’s’ had name boards and marketing material that prominently displayed the name ‘St. Ann’s CBSE,’ blurring the lines between the two names and creating confusion among unsuspecting parents.

Even student uniforms reportedly bore the alternate name, further adding to the deception. Believing it to be a branch of the well-known St. Ann’s School, many parents rushed to admit their children, with some allegedly paying additional donations after being told that seats were limited.

Truth uncovered after parental inquiry

Alarm bells rang when a few cautious parents reached out to the original St. Ann’s School, only to be informed that it had no affiliated campus in the ECIL area.

Realising they may have been duped, parents attempted to confront the management of the Kushaiguda school, who reportedly failed to provide any convincing answers.

With no response from the school, the parents approached the Kushaiguda police and Medchal district education authorities to file formal complaints.

Glamorous brochures, false promises

The school had distributed glossy brochures and conducted marketing campaigns that gave the impression it was part of the St. Ann’s education network.

The visuals, branding and claims of CBSE affiliation convinced many parents to part with significant sums in the form of tuition fees and upfront payments.

BRSV leads protest, political pressure mounts

The issue took a political turn when members of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi Vidyarthi (BRSV), led by Uppal MLA Bandari Lakshma Reddy, staged a protest outside the school demanding strict action.

Tensions flared outside St. Anne’s School as the protestors accused the school of falsely presenting itself as a CBSE-affiliated institution without obtaining the necessary permissions.

“How can a school claim CBSE status without approval?” the MLA questioned, urging the education department to act against institutions playing with the future of children.

The student wing also demanded that the school must be seized for duping parents by using the names ‘St. Ann’s’ and ‘St. Anne’s’ without authorisation. The BRSV has also warned of escalating protests if authorities fail to resolve the issue swiftly.

School seized by authorities

On Tuesday, Mandal Education Officer (MEO) of Keesara, Bapi Reddy, formally seized the school, citing violations in registration and operational procedures.

While the school had permission to operate under the name ‘St. Ann’s,’ it functioned as ‘St. Anne’s,’ which officials initially labelled a ‘clerical error.’

However, given the scale and impact, the error is now being treated as a regulatory breach. All school operations have been suspended until further notice, he said.

For now, the St. Anne’s campus in Kushaiguda stands sealed, its future and that of its students hanging in uncertainty.

Academic year begins, parents in panic

With the academic year underway, parents are now left in limbo, unsure about their children’s educational continuity. “We paid fees, bought uniforms and trusted the name. Now we’re told the school is unauthorised,” said a parent, echoing the concerns of dozens of families who feel misled.

Public calls for government accountability

There is growing public demand for the Telangana government and Education Commission to tighten regulations, verify school credentials rigorously and penalise institutions found guilty of deceptive practices. Parents are also urging the government to provide alternative schooling options for the affected students and ensure a refund of the fees collected.