From increasing the height of boundary walls to taking attendance of students twice a day, the Delhi government has asked all city schools to ensure their students do not bunk classes. In a circular to heads of schools, it has also instructed them to take action against teachers whose students are found roaming outside schools after marking their attendance.
“Of late, it has been observed that some students try to bunk classes simply to enjoy roaming in public places, parks, roads, etc. Innocent students do not realise that by bunking classes, they are not only causing loss to their studies but also endangering their own lives,” the circular, dated March 2, said.
The move comes in the wake of the mysterious death of a six-year-old boy, Divyansh Kakrora, of Ryan International School, who was found dead in school’s water tank. The police are yet to solve the case. Ryan School Principal Sandhya Sabu had claimed that Divyansh was a ‘hyperactive’ child who had a ‘tendency’ of running away from the classroom. “It is all the more important for teachers and heads to ensure that no student leaves the premises before the school is closed ”, the circular said.
Making the teachers and school staff accountable for the absence of students, the government has asked principals and vice-principals to make frequent rounds of classrooms and school premises. “The heads must ensure that all teachers reach classes within two-three minutes of the ringing of bells. If a student is found absent from the class (after having been present in the assembly), his/her parents must be called to school promptly through written notice or phone calls.”
Taking it positively, some principals said the safety of students is schools’ responsibility. “Safety of students is of utmost importance. When a student is in the school, he/she is under the care of the school and their safety is school’s responsibility. While we do not come across such incidents, we still have to be very cautious. I welcome Delhi government’s decision as extra precaution is needed,” said Ashok Pandey, Principal of Ahlcon International School.
Pooja Jain, mother of a 15-year-old, welcomed the decision, but she is skeptical of its implementation.
