NDTV Expose Part 2 - Education for sale at Delhi school

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

Monday, July 31, 2006 (New Delhi): Schooling is clearly big business, not just for those who run them but also for the middlemen. One of Delhi's top schools was caught on camera by NDTV selling a seat for Rs 2.5 lakh. It is not merit but the broker who decides who gets admission in the school for the right amount of money.

Delhi has two branches of the privately owned Mount Carmel school. An NGO informed the NDTV team that donations are common practice at the institution. Sources asked the team to contact a broker named Muktesh who regularly gets children admitted into the southwest Delhi branch of the school. Bindu, who posed as a student, approached Muktesh for admission to class XI to study Science. At a preliminary meeting, Muktesh said that even though admissions closed two weeks ago, he can get Bindu in for Rs 2.5 lakh.

Admissions closed

Nearly 48 hours later, the team met him outside the school with a bag full of money. He was, however, not alone. The man with him was Anil who took us to meet K C Thomas, Vice Principal of Mount Carmel School. The Vice Principal was apparently expecting us and knew Anil quite well.

Vice Principal: Mr Anil is very close to me.
NDTV: Is he on your staff?
Vice Principal: No
NDTV: So you're admitting this student because of Anil?
Vice Principal: Yes. Otherwise, we would not have entertained you.
NDTV: But admissions have closed?
Vice Principal: Yes, two weeks ago.

After we completed the registration form, the Vice Principal sent Bindu to meet four teachers for an interview. NDTV told Bindu to deliberately fail her interviews and as agreed, she performed dismally.

Dismal performance

One hour later, the Vice Principal was shown the results of Bindu's tests.

Vice Principal: You didn't do well in Chemistry, Computer Science or Math.
Student: Yes, sir.
Vice Principal: But I'll admit you because of Mr Anil. You'll have to work hard.
NDTV: When can she join?
Vice Principal: On Monday.

Outside the school, we met Muktesh to sort out the accounts.

NDTV: How much should I give you?
Muktesh: Today, you give me Rs 1.25 lakh.
NDTV: What is the total donation?
Muktesh: Rs 2.25 lakh. I keep Rs 25,000 and the rest goes to them.

Caught in the act

Now that NDTV had everything on camera, Muktesh was told that he has been caught. He tried to make a run for it, but eventually surrendered. Reluctantly, he explained how his business functions. He has contacts at various schools. When parents approach him, he puts them in touch with these contacts, which include school officials.

At Mount Carmel, his main contact is Anil whose own child studies in the junior school here. Anil is a caterer and occasionally provides food for school functions, which is how he met and formed a network with school officials. "I would have made just Rs 10,000-20,000. My friends would have distributed the rest. I'm not sure who all are involved, whether it's the Principal, Vice Principal or the Chairman," said Muktesh.

The Vice Principal was later told about what NDTV had dug up. He offered a bunch of excuses and his earlier comments about Bindu's poor caliber were soon discarded. He instead said she had proved her merit. "We admitted her because she had the required percentage," claimed Thomas. NDTV then spoke to the Principal who confirmed that the Vice Principal is in charge of all school admissions. "The Vice Principal is in charge, but we don't take money," said William, Principal, Mount Carmel. The Principal did not ask if he could look at the tape and said that ordering an inquiry is unnecessary.