Hyderabad private schools are to take out a protest rally on 7 July 2012 with a demand to bring educational institutions under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) Act. The protest is being organised by Andhra Pradesh Recognised Schools Managements Association which has about 17,000 schools across the state under its wing.

Protesting school managements said as many as 40 working days were lost due to bandh calls in the last academic year of 2011-12. Even as the schools reopened on June 12 this year, two holidays were announced owing to bandh calls given by various student unions. School managements said they were forced to work even on Sundays to make up for the lost working days in the last academic year to complete the portions. "Class X students who appear for the board examinations are put to test during the bandh days. They come under a lot of pressure," said S Sreenivas Reddy, president of the association.

Only students belonging to class VIII and IX will participate in the rally, officials of the organization said. The rally, which will start at 10am on July 7, will conclude at Indira Park. "Political parties and student unions should exempt schools from bandhs as children at that age can hardly understand politics. They only stand to lose in the long run," said Reddy.