Parents of Sainik School students raise counter allegations
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2011: Refuting the charges of the school authority of Sainik School, Imphal, over denial of readmission to 72 students in class XI, aggrieved parents have asserted that there have been instances when the number of students in class XI and XII exceeded 100 each.

Addressing the media at the Press Club here today, the parents pointed out that in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and during the time of then principal Palmer, more than 100 students were promoted to class XI and the reduction in the number of students in class XI over the last 5 years is on account of withdrawal of students themselves on financial ground and not expulsion by the school authority.

The aggrieved parents further pointed out that the school has one PGT for each subject to teach both students of class XI and XII and it used to have two sections in class XI and XII.

But now the school has only one section in class XII comprising 24 students only.

If the school authority intends to keep only 60-70 students in class XI, then why did it admit 150 students in class VI, they questioned.

The aggrieved parents contended that the students of class XI went on a strike on November 26, 2010 in protest over the continuous brutal behaviour of the Registrar and the callous attitude of the Principal, who was always out of station on leave.

However, instead of taking up corrective measures, the school authority promptly expelled all the students of class XII on November 26.The parents were therefore forced to manage on their own and cover the syllabus of the expelled students.

Moreover, when the parents pleaded for leniency in the interest of the career of the students and requested the school authority to allow the students to apologise for their juvenile acts, the school authority turned it the request.

Students of class X were told to vacate the school hostel a week before the commencement of the Board examination, thus compelling most of them, who hail from far flung areas, to put up in private hostels located near the school, the parents informed.

It is unethical for a prestigious school like Sainik School, Imphal to record a wastage rate of over 50 percent, that is 72 out of 134 students.

Unfortunately, the school authority has irresponsibly justified the denial of readmission of 72 students citing disciplinary grounds without any effort to administer corrective measures.

The school authority has simply opted to filter out the students, thereby equating them with criminals, on one hand, and instilling a fear psychosis among the remaining students, on the other hand, the aggrieved parents lamented.

The school authority's intention of publishing the photographs of the students for their juvenile acts is intimidating in nature and amounts to terrorising the students and the parents, which is unethical and shameful.

Such intension has put the credibility of the school authority in running the affairs of the school in poor light, the aggrieved parents said.

They also contended that the decision of the school to maintain B2 grading as the cut off marks for retention and readmission of students in class XI is in utter disregard and violation of the Sainik School Society by-laws, which clearly prescribes a minimum of D grade for readmission to class XI.

As to the charges of drinking liquor and misbehaving with girls, the aggrieved parents pointed out that the school authority do not issue out pass to the students and even the parents are not allowed to enter the school campus.

So, how could the students get liquor or misbehave with girls.

The aggrieved parents have also drawn the attention of the school authority to the fact that there are many prominent ex-students of the school, who are parents of the children studying in the school today.

Comment