BANGALORE: The reopening of Vibgyor High school may not be as simple as ringing the school bell.
Many parents are still concerned over the likely presence of others who could be involved in the alleged cover-up of the sexual abuse of a six-year old girl in the school recently.
Watch Video: Bangalore's Vibgyor School Reopens
A section of parents has petitioned Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar to suspend members of the school staff who are suspected of having either committed the crime or played the role of accomplice.
“It is our humble request to suspend people right from coaches and teachers ... to the top of the chain of accountability. This needs to include coordinators, vice-principal and the principal,” the petition stated.
Parents are concerned that the presence of those allegedly involved renders the environment of the school unsafe for children to start attending classes.
“We trust the justice system to take its own course. However, till then, it will be very unsafe to send our kids where the staff was involved not only in a heinous crime but also in covering it up.”
Murali, a parent, will still send his daughter to school when it reopens for primary classes on Wednesday.
“It is true that there are various sections of parents who want to send kids right away, who want to change the school and others who want a change in management. I will send my child hoping that the police will do whatever they have to, but concerns remain,” Murali said.
Another parent, Chandrima Dutta, wrote on Facebook that she has mentally prepared her daughter to be positive amid the confusion and attention of police and media that would surround the school.
“So while we need to stand up very firmly against this crime, we cannot keep children confined to the four walls of the house,” she wrote on the social networking site.
Parents Visit School
Around 150 parents visited Vibgyor High school on Sunday afternoon to review security measures adopted ahead of its reopening and expressed satisfaction. South-4 Block Education Officer S M Ramesh said the school had installed 100 new CCTV cameras.
Additional Security In Plain Clothes
Additional Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Alok Kumar, met parents on Sunday. “To instill a sense of confidence among the parents, we will be deploying our men both inside and outside the school premises. Those inside the school will be in plain clothes while those outside will be in uniform,” he said.
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