Aug 17, 2011 10:38 PM
90600 Views
Dear Ryan Parents, and those looking to admit kids in this school,
I would like to bring something of great importance to your notice. My daughter, studying in Montessori in Ryan was forced to strip by her bus conductor. Even though the school said that the conductor has been removed, I have not been given any proof of the same yet.
NOTE: This is not my problem alone. This can happen to any of your kids also since looks like their background verification process(for staff) is weak(read further).
I talked to the principal about the problem not being fixed from root; that the instance can recur, if not with my child, then with someone else's child. I requested him to please take some action to increase bus safety. I suggested putting a lady attendant in buses at least for Montessori students as this is the practice followed by many schools. Guess what the principal replied. He said it is not possible because last time the lady attendant was kidnapped by the driver and it became a rape case.
NOTE: This was a huge revelation to me. If the driver alone can kidnap an adult lady, then are our girls safe. Any time they are alone in the bus(being picked up first or dropped last), how much time will it take for two males, the driver and the conductor to try and kidnap our daughters.
Anyway, he mentioned that such news have come to him before(NOTE again, these security incidents have happened before) and he is working on video surveillance and GPRS tracking on the buses. It looked like a good alternative to a lady attendant so I patiently waited. But even after one month, there was no progress.
I am quite sure you guys can imagine how difficult it must be for me to send my daughter to school during this period. Imagine you working in office not knowing whether you will get your daughter unharmed in the evening. I suffered with several sleepless nights. But this worry was not sufficient for the principal to speed up the process. In fact on insisting to show some progress he went to the extent of saying that buses were anyway optional and we can arrange our own transport if we are too worried. Further he mentioned that things cannot be speeded up as decision about GPRS etc. is to be made by people higher in the hierarchy to him(to whom I will not get access).
During this time, it was difficult for me to get appointment with the principal as well. On several occasions I went there, he was out of office; sometimes in other branches attending Annual Functions or training newly joined principals there. If I tried to get appointment to him on phone, it was usually engaged or nobody picked it up. Once or twice when I got through, receptionist either discouraged me to talk to principal saying always that he is too busy, or gave an incorrect appointment.
NOTE: I do believe Ryan must have been a good school at one time. But looks like currently its infrastructure is crumbling under its own weight. They have insufficient staff for the number of students they have. Guys - you deserve better, for the amount of fees you pay, the minimum you should demand is that your voice be heard.
So once I was sure that nothing is going to happen, I pulled out my daughter from school and requested for refund of Rs.75, 000/- which I had paid as admission fee. I didn't have much hope but needed funds for donation for admission in next school. If they had refused the refund by giving logical reasons, I would have probably accepted(or maybe not). But look at the sequence of events that happens next:
Assume day 0 to be date of me refund request(a written letter submitted to principal).
Day 45: Ryan Staff - Sir I know you were talking to principal on day 0 but I am not aware of any letter you submitted to him. It never reached me.
Day 50, 55: Ryan Staff - Sir I have not got time to work on your request yet. Please be patient.
Day 60: Sir, I have signed the request letter from my side and forwarded to next approval authority. I do not know how much more time it will take.
Day 60-90: The person has stopped picking up my phone.
I am now initiating a legal proceeding against Ryan. But folks, whether I win or lose, I have a message for each one of you:
Message to Each
- Ryan Parents
a. Be aware of danger in buses. I might have failed because I was alone. You need not. Form a group, go and talk to Ryan management. Threaten to pull out your kids unless something is done to improve bus safety. There is power in numbers. If Ryan denies security issues, take printout of this message, he will not be able to deny this. If he does, contact me back, I will come with you with written proofs, let us see how he denies anything then.
b. Please note lack of concern from school, unavailability on phone, long queues for anything you try to do at school, even to talk to receptionist. Compare it to other schools. For the fees you are paying, you deserve better. Demand it. Ask them for more staff.
c. Put this message in Ryan parent forum; Ryan uses myschool.com. Please bring this incident to notice of all parents whose kids are studying there. I am not having access to it anymore since my child is not studying there.
- Parent looking for admission at Ryan
a. Avoid admission, at Ryan. Safety comes first. Anyway Ryan is not churning out geniuses. Among traditional schools, Even St. Patrick's, St. Peters etc. would be providing same facilities as Ryan, but would be charging you less than half the fees Ryan is charging.
b. School crumbling under its own infrastructure, if you have found difficulty in getting appointments, if you have to run multiple times for small things, this is not the school for you. Can you believe, the next school where I got my daughter admitted, everything was done over phone, and I had to go just once to completed all the formalities. Even donation was half of what I paid at Ryan.
d. High admission fee a danger. Rs. 75, 000/- is way too high. If for any reason you pull your child out, you get nothing back.
- To All Parents in General
a. Always choose a school near your home. Bus time is unmonitored time. i.e. unmonitored by any responsible adults. Nasty things can happen during this time. Learn from my mistake. Go for a school close by.
