KARAIKAL:Two Class VI girls in a private school near Karaikal were on Friday caned by their teacher for failing to pay the annual day fee sought by the management. The girls, who sustained bruises in their hands, were treated at the Karaikal government hospital. Later, the girls’ parents lodged a police complaint regarding the incident at the Nedungadu police station.
According to sources, the two girls - Maheswari and Sumathi (both names changed) - hailing from Kottucherry, were studying in Good Shepherd English School near Melakasakudi in Karaikal.
The school management had allegedly been collecting Rs 1,200 per student for conducting the annual day in a grand manner. As Maheswari, and Sumathi appeared for classes on Friday, their Tamil teacher Amuthavalli reportedly asked them to pay their annual day fee. As the girls didn’t pay the amount and didn’t offer any explanation, Amuthavalli allegedly beat them using a cane in the class.
In the incident, the two girls reportedly sustained bruises in their hands. Later, after their parents returned home from out of town, the girls informed them about the incident. Subsequently, they were taken to the Karaikal government hospital for treatment.
Based on the complaint, Nedungadu police registered an FIR and a probe is on. The parents of the girls have urged the district administration and Education Department to initiate severe action against the practice of private schools collecting fees from students for conducting annual day and other events.
When contacted, Collector E Vallavan said, “Corporal punishment is completely prohibited in schools under the Right To Education (RTE) Act. It is unfortunate and shocking even for the district administration to hear about the caning incident for failing to pay the annual day fee. It is the responsibility of private schools management to conduct functions by managing their own resources and not that of the students. The district administration would take severe action to prevent such incidents in future.”