A Kerala school that had dismissed three students because their parents moved court for fee reduction has decided to revoke its decision after facing flak. The students, two of whom were supposed to be enrolled in class 9, and the other in class 8, were dismissed by Janasakthi Public School at Kayamkulam in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, as the new academic year started earlier this month. After the parents of the children moved the Lok Adalat against the blatant move, the school administration decided to admit the students back.
The parents of the three children had moved the Kerala High Court last year asking the school to reduce upto Rs 15,000 one time fees given that classes were being held online. Considering similar pleas from parents of students studying in various CBSE schools in the state, the High Court ruled in favour of the parents directing schools to reduce 15 to 20% of the fees.
However, citing that parents tainted the name of the school, Janasakthi Public School decided to oust the three students. The decision of the school management to oust the students without any prior notice after the academic year started had come as a shock for the children and their families. The blatant move of the school administration was earlier reported by TNM. The report of the Lok Adalat proceedings held at the District Legal Services Authority at Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha states that 'both the parties decided to settle the matter' and that the children can continue their studies in the school.
Talking to TNM, parents of the children said that the school administration was pressured after the media reported about the incident. "They have now unconditionally admitted the students back and stated they will specially conduct classes that the students missed," says Prathapan, parent of one of the class 9 students.
While the two class 9 students have decided to re-join the school, the class 8 boy's family told TNM that they have decided to admit him to a new school.
"My son became emotionally broken after the incident. In the letter by the Principal of Janasakthi Public School, it was stated that even teachers wrote a letter saying they cannot teach the students. He liked his teacher very much, and he got really hurt after coming to know about this. He is therefore saying he does not want to go back to the school. We don't want to force him," said the student's parent Vinod Kumar.
In its explanation letter to the parents, the school administration had alleged that one of the parents made an offensive remark against a teacher last year during the discussions regarding fee reduction. However the parents expressed displeasure that the Child Rights Commission in the state did not intervene in the matter, despite it being a matter of concern for the students.
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