School suspends students for taking unofficial leave

Mumbai: Malad-based Children’s Academy School on Wednesday suspended over 32 students for allegedly taking unauthorised leave during the Jain festival of Paryushan Mahaparva. The students’ parents are upset and want the school to rescind its decision as they feel their children have the “right to preach, practice and protect their religion”.

The parents said that their children had done the Paushadh Vrat, where people are seen fasting, worshipping and meditating for eight days. During this period however, the students took certain days’ leave from school. A parent said, “We have got to know from the school that our children are being suspended for three days but it is unfair as we were only doing a noble deed for our community. If they don’t allow our children in class for more days, they will be under stress of studies.”

According to the school management however, of the 1,600 students who belong to the Jain faith, only 32 students did not inform before taking leave. Rohan Bhat, chairperson of Children’s Academy told The Asian Age that if the students had taken three days’ leave, it was authorised, but any number of days beyond the stipulated number was akin to violating the school’s general rules.

“Only one parent took permission or dropped the leave application while every other student, came to school but did not inform that he/she was going to remain absent from school. The ones who have been suspended took five, six, eight days’ leave apart from the three leaves that are allowed,” Mr Bhat said.

According to the parents, if the school can give leave during Ganeshotsav and Diwali, their festival, too, should be given preference. According to the school however, vacations and leave are as per the state rules and not as per its own leave policy.

According to the school, the students will be suspended as per the number of days they remained absent over and above the authorised number.