This comes days after three schools got show-cause notices from the DI (District Inspector) of Howrah on Thursday for “involving” students in protests. However, school authorities claimed that the marches in question took place outside school hours and that the schools had nothing to do with them.
School students will not be able to participate in “any event outside the school campus,” as directed by the DI office of West Midnapore on Saturday — a guideline that has been met with controversy.
The Commissioner for School Education stated in the letter, “The attention is again drawn to the provision of section 71 of the right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009… which prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment of children in school. Further, under Sub Rule 16 of Rule 4 of West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (Appointment, Confirmation, Conduct and Discipline of Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff) Rules, 2018… no punishment can be inflicted on children/students which is barred under any law. (sic)”
It further read, “These provisions should again be widely circulated and brought to the notice of all teachers, non-teaching staff and others working in primary/secondary schools to ensure that these provisions are strictly adhered to and that no physical torture/punishment or mental harassment of the children/students takes place in schools, under any circumstances. Further, in reiterating the earlier orders, it is stated that schoolchildren should also not be allowed to participate in political programmes during school hours. These should be strictly followed and any violation would be viewed seriously and action would be initiated as per Rules.”
A protest march was organised, allegedly at the schools, in Howrah on Thursday. After that, the DI (District Inspector) of Howrah gave notice to those schools. Notices were issued to Baluhati High School, Baluhati Girls High School, and Baluhati Rajalakshmi Balika Vidyalaya on Friday.
According to the DI office, children’s rights have been “violated” by organising such processions in schools. It is also mentioned in the notice that such a procession is “not safe”. The school authorities were told to explain within 24 hours why “teachers and students” had marched or face action.
Anjan Kumar Saha, teacher-in-charge of Baluhati High School, said there was no procession during the school hour, and no teacher took part in the procession. He said, “I don’t know why we were asked because the procession was taken out after 4:45, minutes after school got over. Ex-students took this initiative. A few current students were also present in the procession.”
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