NDTV expose: School caught buying admission - A Must Read!

talkIndia · Site Admin Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 153

Sunday, July 30, 2006 (New Delhi): Delhi prides itself on its public schools, some of which are among the country's premier educational institutions. Their top-of-the-line schooling has top-of-the-line prices and a month at these schools can cost upwards of Rs 5000.

But even if you can afford them, getting into these schools can be next to impossible. Cut-offs are high, interviews for both parents and students are tough and the demand is far greater than the supply. But as NDTV found out, cold, hard cash can make all sorts of doors open.

One of the city's premier schools, the Delhi Public School in Mathura Road, was established in 1949 and is the oldest branch of this privately owned chain of schools.
Nearly 5000 students are enrolled there from kindergarten to Class XII. Thousands of children apply for admission every year and the school has an outstanding academic record.

Bindu, one of the persons who volunteered to help NDTV, posed as a Class X graduate who wanted admission to the Class XI Science section at DPS Mathura Road. Her marksheet shows she is a good student with 86 per cent in her Class X CBSE exams. NDTV had escorted Bindu to the school in early July. At that time, on paper at least, the school was not accepting any more students since the admissions closed in June. But in reality, things were different.

NDTV: We have come for admission in Class XI.

Security guard: Admissions are closed. See the notice outside.

But NDTV found out that one person by the name of Goldy Khurana, whose two children study in the same school, has been helping other parents with admission but they have had to pay big amounts. After a brief phone conversation, Khurana asks NDTV team to email Bindu's Class X marksheet to him. Khurana says that the Science section is off-limits but he can get Bindu into the Commerce section at DPS. The price was a whopping three lakh Rupees. NDTV arranges to meet him the next day, outside the school with the money.

In addition to the Rs three lakh "donation" they were required to pay Rs 60,000 as the annual fee and Rs 35,000 as a one-time new-student fee.

Khurana: You can get admission in Commerce with Maths. Just go and meet NS Rana, PA to the Principal. He will give you an admission form.

NDTV: Can we pay the admission fee today?

Khurana: No, you'll get just the admission form today. You can't pay the fee because the school is closed.

NDTV: Will you come with us?

Khurana: No, I can't. My children study here. Don't worry, the student will just be interviewed, there won't be any tests.

Khurana gives NDTV team a packet of CDs for NS Rana, the Principal's PA and the man who was to supposedly get the job done.

Rana: You've got your marksheet?

NDTV: Yes.

Rana: The admissions officer has left. Come tomorrow at 9 am with your original marksheet.

NDTV: Is the admission confirmed?

Rana: Yes, don't worry.

NDTV: So when can the student join?

Rana: You can join tomorrow after a formal interview with the Principal.

NDTV hands over the packet of CDs that Khurana, the middleman, had given. They don't know what the CDs contain but it proved that Rana knows the middleman, and interacts regularly with him. The PA hands over an admission form to signal that the transaction is through. NDTV team then joins Khurana outside, who checks the bag to make sure that the Rs three lakh is inside.

Khurana: This guarantees admission. Now just pay the fee and meet the Principal.

NDTV: Sure? The form is all we have.

Khurana: You met the Principal's PA. He has fixed everything.

And then he asks for the Rs three lakh. When the NDTV team told him that they'd rather pay after the admission is officially confirmed the next day, he tells them that it's all or nothing. The sources who referred NDTV team to Khurana claim that he has a steady working relationship with the PA. Khurana takes the bribe and sends students to the PA, who arranges the admission. The students are never asked to take admission tests. They just meet with the Principal and then, they're in. In the following conversation, Khurana clearly states that the money goes directly to the Principal's PA.

Khurana: Nothing will move inside till they get this money.

NDTV: But how can we pay the entire amount?

Khurana: You have to.

The NDTV team promises Khurana that they will meet him later that night at his office with the money, to which he reluctantly agrees. For the rest of that day, Khurana made several calls to NDTV, which is not taken. As expected, when the team went back to the school the next day, the deal was clearly off because they hadn't paid up. When they reached DPS, they were stopped by the security guard who was ready with Rana'a message.

Security guard: Sir wants you to leave behind your admission form, he will get in touch with you.

NDTV: But he called us today.

Security guard: I can't help you.

No money, no admission. That's how it works at this very reputed school. The corruption trail leads all the way to the school's highest office.