‘Delay’ in issuing LC, mother of 2 approaches rights panel

Two   students of St Joseph’s High School, Agripada, have been left in the lurch after the school allegedly delayed the issuance of their leaving certificate (LC). The mother has now approached the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR), asking it to intervene in the matter as the children, students of classes 5 and 8, are about to loose an academic year.

“I want justice for my children. Due to some family issues and owing to change of residence as we were shifting to Pune, I requested the school to give me an LC and applied for the same on January 3. My children were set to get admitted to another school then. I made several rounds of the school for the LC, but was told each time that it was still not ready. As the school didn’t issue an LC till January 23, on that day finally, I requested the school to allow my daughters to appear for the final exam for the 2013-14 academic year, so that their year is not wasted. The school refused and issued the LC on the same day. She (school principal) scolded me and forced me to take the LC on the same day. But, it was too late and despite several attempts, my daughters could not get admission to any other school,” said the mother, adding that owing to the delay in issuing the LC, her children missed the deadline for admission elsewhere.

The mother in her letter has said she also approached the school education department, requesting them to ask the school to allow her children to appear for the exam.

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“They refused to acknowledge the letter from the education department, which asked the school to allow my children to give the annual exam. Despite repeated requests, the school refused to cooperate,” she said Looking at the seriousness of the case, the commission has called for a special hearing on April 29.

The school has denied the allegations made by her. “She took the leaving certificate in January, and now she wants re-admission for her children. But, the students have hardly attended school since August. So, how can they be allowed to appear for the annual exam without attending classes?” said the school during the previous hearing.
mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com