Govt school won’t admit ‘older’ boy in class 6
New Delhi, March 29 2012, DHNS:
A student from economically weaker background has been denied admission in class 6 in a government school allegedly on the grounds that he is “older” than the appropriate age for the class.
Nand Kumar, who is 16-years-old, started studying late because his parents did not have the money to support his education.
Parents said the principal cited his age being inappropriate as the reason for denying admission to him.
Nand Kumar, passed class 5 from Adarsh co-ed, a MCD-run school in Jamrudpur. He has also been issued a certificate of primary education dated March 29, 2012 by the school.
“My child has completed class 5 and we want him to go to Government Boys Senior Secondary School, located in Sadiq Nagar, as it is only half a kilometre away from our place. This will help us save money and educate him,” said Asha Devi, Nand's mother.
Archana Agnihotri, an activist with social jurist civil rights group, has filed a complaint against the school, as she received several complaints from parents against the principal of the government school.
“The principal is harassing poor parents by not admitting such students. Nand's father is a car cleaner and his mother is a domestic help. They are not educated but this does not mean that schools can exploit them,” she said.
She added, “The school is forcing the child to take class 10 admission test when he can barely understand what is being taught in class 6.”
Ashok Agarwal, an advocate with Supreme Court said the school does not have the right to deny admission on the basis of a child's age.
“The school principal’s decision to not to admit Nand Kumar with respect to his age is not only unconstitutional but also in violation of the express provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009,” he said.
The principal was not available for comment.
Source: Deccan Herald
Nand Kumar, who is 16-years-old, started studying late because his parents did not have the money to support his education.
Parents said the principal cited his age being inappropriate as the reason for denying admission to him.
Nand Kumar, passed class 5 from Adarsh co-ed, a MCD-run school in Jamrudpur. He has also been issued a certificate of primary education dated March 29, 2012 by the school.
“My child has completed class 5 and we want him to go to Government Boys Senior Secondary School, located in Sadiq Nagar, as it is only half a kilometre away from our place. This will help us save money and educate him,” said Asha Devi, Nand's mother.
Archana Agnihotri, an activist with social jurist civil rights group, has filed a complaint against the school, as she received several complaints from parents against the principal of the government school.
“The principal is harassing poor parents by not admitting such students. Nand's father is a car cleaner and his mother is a domestic help. They are not educated but this does not mean that schools can exploit them,” she said.
She added, “The school is forcing the child to take class 10 admission test when he can barely understand what is being taught in class 6.”
Ashok Agarwal, an advocate with Supreme Court said the school does not have the right to deny admission on the basis of a child's age.
“The school principal’s decision to not to admit Nand Kumar with respect to his age is not only unconstitutional but also in violation of the express provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009,” he said.
The principal was not available for comment.
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