The school at Marathahalli, where a six-year-old was raped, is set to reopen on Monday, albeit in a phased manner. It has remained closed for over a week since the incident was reported. The decision was taken after a three-hour-long meeting on Thursday, involving a section of parents, school staff and management, Education Department officials and the police. S.M. Ramesh, Block Education Officer, said that classes five to 10 would be reopened on Monday, one to four on Wednesday, and pre-primary on Thursday.
The management had agreed to the 11-point demand of parent representatives. Although the parents had initially submitted 40 demands and questions, it was shortlisted to 11 later.
Stating that the meeting was “satisfactory”, Vandana Surana, parent, said the school had agreed to form a task force with parents to monitor implementation of all demands. The school had also agreed to conduct a background check of staff, monitor movements of children, install more CCTVs, enable a GPS system in school buses, stop commercial activities in the school and prevent strangers from entering the campus.
While the most pressing demands would be addressed by August, other demands such as formation of parent-teacher association, would be done by September. The management had agreed to provide identity cards for parents, who pick their children from school.
Doubts lingerEven after it was announced that the school would reopen from Monday, concerns remained. While some parents were keen on sending their children back to school, a small section demanded a new management, upset with the current one for allegedly trying cover up the incident. Some parents wanted to withdraw their wards and sought to know if the fees would be refunded. There was no clarity on whether the sports and performing arts (SPA) activities will be continued. Mustafa, the prime accused, who taught skating was part of the SPA.
