Schools asked to submit results

The school education department has asked schools of all boards to submit the results of Class VIII and IX before the start of the next academic year. It has also asked for submission of details of remedial classes conducted by the schools to help weak students.

The schools have been asked to submit the details by the end of May or before the schools reopen.

Throwing light on the need to issue the notice to schools, B.B. Chavan, acting deputy director of education, Mumbai said that there had been instances and complaints of schools keeping back weak students in Class IX to ensure that they have good results in the SSC exams. “Schools have been guilty of discriminating against weaker students and even though there are clear instructions from the government restraining them from doing so, they have been doing so nonchalantly,” said Mr Chavan.

With a large number of parents lodging complaints through different organisations against such practices by schools across all boards, the school education department has decided to curb it by increasing its vigilance.

“The schools take advantage of the fact that the Right to Education (RTE) Act is only applicable till Class VIII. Schools cannot fail students till then and hence they resort to keeping back students after Class IX,” said Jayant Jain, president of Forum for Fairness in Education (FFE) that has submitted complaints against many schools in the city resorting to such practices. He further added, “However, as the education department has started to clamp down on this, schools are now handing over leaving certificates to weak students even though they have passed class VIII and ask them to appear privately or through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS),” said Jayant Jain, president of Forum for Fairness in Education (FFE) that has submitted complaints against many schools in the city resorting to such practices.”

Reacting to this, Mr Chavan said, “Schools found to be keeping back a large number of students will be asked to give an explanation. If they are unable to give a satisfactory reply, strict action will be taken against them.”