HYDERABAD: Ten more parents have come forward alleging mental harassment by the principal of DRS International School in the city, after an FIR was filed against him on Wednesday.
The FIR was filed after a school girl studying in the 12th grade was denied permission to write her first term exams. The parents allege that the school principal mentally harassed their daughter over her grades.
“The principal drove my daughter to the point of contemplating suicide,” said Vasavi, the mother of the girl and wife of film producer Pandu Ranga Rao. The principal had problems with her 11th standard grades. It’s true that she did not score high marks but that’s no ground to stop her from writing her 12th standard exams.
The parents have lodged a complaint with Pet Basheerabad police station. Police have already registered a case against Gourav Mourya, the principal of DRS International school under the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act.
“My daughter is now afraid of going to school,she worries he will harass and insult her,” said Vasavi.
The principal had even called us to the school and insulted us. Teachers are supposed to encourage not discourage children, she added.
“The FIR against Gourav Mourya mentions him to be of 33 years of age, but education board regulations mandate that school principals where girl children study should be above the age of 45 and female,” said Achyuta Rao, president of Balala Hakkula Sangham, he is also a member of state child rights commission.
“The parents who have come forward are of economically forward sections of society and they wish to remain anonymous so that their children wont get targeted by the school,” he added.
“Children need to feel safe in schools, if they are harassed over grades at schools and by parents it severely affects their learning abilities,” said Alka Singh, general manager of Save The Children.