Daijiworld Media Network – Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Sep 2: The fatal stabbing of a student at Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Higher Secondary School has prompted several schools in the city to tighten campus security and reintroduce surprise bag checks.

During these inspections, teachers and administrators have made startling discoveries. Apart from books and lunch boxes, students were found carrying mobile phones, tablets, lighters, cigarettes, vapes, and even alcohol in water bottles. Some schools reported finding whiteners, cosmetics, contraceptives, condoms, spare clothes, and footwear. In a few cases, blades, paper cutters, chains, and sharp objects were also recovered, leading schools to ban scissors and rounders.

Principals said items like playing cards, pornographic novels, expensive pens, flashy jewellery, journals, and excess cash were also confiscated. “Parents are informed immediately and the items are returned during parent-teacher meetings. Some parents admit their children do not listen to them,” one school head stated.

Counsellors emphasised that peer pressure and exposure to popular culture are influencing such behaviour. ‘OTT platforms and web series are normalising adult habits, making children imitate what they see on screen,’ psychologist Dr Prashant Bhimani explained. Another counsellor, Smita Ghosh, said easy access to addictive substances at home was also a key factor.

Interestingly, one school reported the presence of imported energy drinks worth Rs 1,500 being used as part of a barter system among students to exchange favours such as project work or class seating.

School managements clarified that punishment was not the answer, and counselling remained the primary approach. Cases involving drugs or sharp weapons are escalated to the district education office (DEO) or police. ‘The bag checks only reveal the influence of the outside environment — homes, screens, and streets. Schools can confiscate items, but real change will come only through awareness and guidance,’ a principal remarked.