Despite the government recommending remedial teaching for Class IX students who are weak in their studies rather than failing them and making them opt for private SSC, schools have been calling parent
Despite the government recommending remedial teaching for Class IX students who are weak in their studies rather than failing them and making them opt for private SSC, schools have been calling parents and asking them to take their children out of the school as they are unable to cope with their studies. The issue has been taken up by parent teacher organisations with the education department, which has said that it will take severe action against schools resorting to sieving students for better results in SSC exams.
“The government had issued orders a few years back asking schools to ensure that they have 100 per cent results in SSC, following which many schools starting sieving weaker students by failing them in class IX and asking them to opt for private SSC,” said Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education.
“As a result of this, many students are forced to leave school prematurely. However, after a hue and cry by parents and organisations representing parents, the current government asked schools to ensure 100 per cent results in both Class IX and X and to conduct remedial classes for weak students, but the schools have been openly flouting the order and still resort to sieving out weak students,” Mr Jain added.
According to parents from a suburban school, even before the results of the class IX exams have been declared, the school in which their child is enrolled in called them up. “The school told us we should take our child out and make him appear for the SSC exams through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) as he is unable to cope with the regular subjects. Though we pleaded with the school to allow him to continue they refused and have said we will be handed the school leaving certificate after the exams,” said one of the parents.
“Schools cannot forcefully remove students by failing them in Class IX or asking them to opt for private SSC or NIOS. Any school found to be flouting norms will be dealt with severely after the mischief is confirmed,” said B.B. Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai region.
