Karnataka - Bangalore   

`The wait is worth it'

By Vidyashree Amaresh

BANGALORE, JAN. 8. People could be seen standing in serpentine queues in front of an embassy for a visa or to have darshan of Lord Balaji on Tirumala or for getting tickets to watch an international cricket match.

But the crowd near the Sophia School at High Grounds here at 1.30 a.m. on Saturday had gathered for a different purpose: they were waiting to get the application forms for admission to the nursery section for their wards. The issue of application forms was scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m.

The biting cold and the fog did not weigh on their minds. Some of them had covered themselves with mufflers, shawls and sweaters. Some others were feeling sleepy.

Many others had come with blankets and rugs to keep the cold and mosquitoes at bay, and those who had come without the usual paraphernalia were shivering.

"This has been happening for the past five years. Every year it is a common sight to see parents standing in queue in front of the school to get the application forms. There are some who are standing here from Friday afternoon," a parent said.

Quality

The parents observe that the quality of education offered in the school has increased the demand.

The availability of limited seats has forced them to stand in queues for long hours to get the application forms.

"Donations don't work here, but influence does to some extent," notes a parent who did not want to be identified.

"Not all present here are parents. There are some `paid to wait representatives' appointed by parents to stand all through the night and get the application forms," he said.

"We don't have any hassles standing here as we are more concerned about the quality of education of our wards. We feel it a sense of responsibility or duty to provide good education to our children regardless of what we have to go through," said another parent.

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