STOP SCHOOL TO DISCRIMINATE STUDENTS OR FACE DEMONSTRATION ON MONDAY

ALL INDIA PARENTS ASSOCIATION
Agarwal Bhawan, G. T. Road,
Tis Hazari, Delhi - 54

To,
Shri Diwan Chand
Director of Education,
Govt. of NCT of Delhi,
Old Secretariat, Delhi
20.10.2011

SUB: Complaint regarding serious psychological violence on hundreds of innocent children studying in St. Lowrence Convent School by the school authorities in the guise of ‘’Smart Class’’

DearSir,

This is to bring to your urgent notice the shocking case of humiliation, harassment and discrimination of hundreds of innocent children by the management and school authorities of St Lowrence Convent School, Geeta Colony Faculty Centre, Delhi-51 in the pretext of "Smart Class" which has left the children studying in that school completely traumatized; and if no immediate action is taken to check it would leave a permanent scar on the innocent minds.

Some glaring facts relating to the case are as follows:

(i) The school has implemented a new "Smart Class" program and is charging Rs 400/- per month per student. And from 17.10.2011 onwards school has divided (DISCRIMINATED) students as "EDUCOMP STUDENTS" and "NON-EDUCOMP STUDENTS." Therefore, those students who have not paid this "Smart Class" Charges are not allowed to sit with their classmates for merely Rs. 400/. This is despite the fact that all students have already paid their Quarterly Fee of approx. Rs. 8,500.

(ii) The school authorities have gone to the extent of dividing (discriminating) non-educomp students’ classes in different rooms and even teachers, sections and their classmates have been changed.

(iii) This sudden discriminatory change in the middle of the session will not just make the children unable to concentrate in their studies but will have a serious negative psychological impact on their innocent minds.

(iv) As many as 500-odd students have not paid this Smart Class Charges.

(v) This Educomp charge itself is on the higher side. The school has Educomp as their Official Partner in this project. On the website of Educomp it is clearly mentioned that Smart Class Charges are between Rs 100-150 per student per month.

It is submitted that the aforesaid action on the part of the school tantamount to commercialization of Education. It is all greed on the part of the school which has resulted in exploitation of hapless parents/students. Apart from that, the same is in clear violation of Section 17 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 which prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment to child. Moreover, the same amounts to cruelty to child and attracts punishment under Section 23 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

Your kind attention is invited to a judgment of U.S. Supreme Court in case of Brown v. Board of Education 347 U.S. 283 (1954) where it has been held that “separate education facilities are inherently unequal” and thus, violate the doctrine of equality.


If immediate action is not taken against the school by the Directorate of Education to check this discrimination it would leave a permanent scar on the innocent minds and we will be left with no option but to hold a peaceful Protest Demonstration in front of your office on Monday 24 October 2011 at 4.00 p.m. for the well-being of our children.


With regards



Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
National President, AIPA
M-09811101923
20/10/11