Chennai: On the eve of the school’s reopening day, the management of Bala Vidya Mandir in Adyar sacked its CEO SS Nathan and removed officiating principal Srinivasa Raghava on Wednesday after a tumultuous week during which the duo joined the agitating parents against the controversial differential fee structure.

But, bowing to public pressure, the management relented on the ‘fee apartheid’, indicating to adhere to the regulations laid down by the Private School Fee determination Committee in totality.

“It has not been our intention to distinguish any children. We shall have a consultative dialogue with the parents to discuss the way forward,” the management said in a press release.

The management has brought in Dr S Sujata, currently principal of BVM global school in Perungudi, as principal, while another former principal Sashikala Sriram would mentor her.

Representation of parents and teachers in the school management committee would be ensured, the statement added.

However, parents who received a different circular said the sacking of CEO and principal 12 hours before the school’s reopening had created more confusion and aggravated the situation.

“Just when we thought that things would cool down, this decision has come. We fear that this was intended to send out a stern message to the teachers who protested against the management. The new members of the SMC might also be hand-picked by the person controlling the trust,” a representative of the parents group said.