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The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has ordered an inquiry by an independent panel into the allegations of a five-year-old kindergarten child of ALP School, Chelembra, being denied entry on school bus because of fee delay.
Child Rights Commission member Cicily Joseph directed Assistant Education Officer (AEO), Parappanangadi, to supervise the inquiry after an online hearing conducted in the matter.
The Commission had initiated a suo motu case following reports that the UKG child had discontinued his education after being denied entry on the school bus on the instructions of headmistress Sreeja T.
During the online hearing, Ms. Sreeja denied the allegations and argued that the child’s mother had discontinued his education for other reasons. The school officials claimed that they were willing to permit the child to continue his education at the school.
Ms. Joseph condemned the incident and said that denying a child entry on a school bus, causing him humiliation and distress, was unacceptable. She said that further action would be based on the report submitted by the AEO-led panel.
The AEO had earlier issued a letter to the school manager demanding disciplinary action against Ms. Sreeja, who is the manager’s wife.
The incident that sparked outrage occurred on October 13, when the child was allegedly barred from boarding the school bus by the driver, reportedly on instructions from the headmistress. The driver reportedly informed the child that he could not board the bus because his mother had not paid the overdue fees of ₹1,000 for two months.
The child felt humiliated, especially as his neighbour-classmate was allowed to board. Whimpering, the child was left stranded at the bus stop.
An elderly woman who knew the child took him home, and his mother was flustered.
The mother paid the fees on that day itself, and demanded an apology from the headmistress. But Ms. Sreeja refused to apologise, claiming that she had not done anything wrong.
English (US) ·