Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, May 15: This is a warning for all teachers.  If you punish children either physically or mentally or even try to fail them you will be punished for such an offence.

Yes – Even though a circular to this effect has been issued a few years back the state government has once again issued a strict warning following the directive from the Supreme Court under RTE.

This matter was included in the ordinance with the main objective of stopping school drop outs among students.  As such,  the focus  will be  more on enforcing the law rather than on improving  the primary education system as a whole.   This means that the teachers will lose their jobs irrespective of the standard of education or the educational and intellectual status of the students.  This ordinance also ensures that up to 8th standard teachers have to compulsorily promote all students. 

If any student is subjected to any physical or mental abuse by the teachers or the educational institutions parents and guardians of such students can complain to local education board. The Board should conduct an inquiry and take action against concerned officials or institutions. 

As per the government ordinance students between the ages of 6 to 14 should not be retained in the same class.  Also, no student can be forced to leave the institution.  If there are any incidents of this nature they should be brought to the notice of the department of education.  The circular warns that if there is any laxity,  the  management of concerned educational institutions and the Headmasters will be held responsible.   

Age Proof Not compulsory

The government has banned the practice of any child refusing admission on the pretext of not having proper age proof.  Any proof from hospitals, anganawadi  kendras or based on self-declaration of age by parents can be considered as age proof for a child’s admission to school.  Even in case of not having proper documents to prove their age no child can be denied admission to school under this pretext.  Government has advised parents to complain to the department if they face such a situation.  At the same time the department has made it clear that the doors of the schools should be open to students to seek admission any time they want and it is the duty of the institution/headmaster concerned to train such students.