The gates of the Government Senior Secondary School in Panipat were locked for children who arrived a few minutes late, causing anger among parents and villagers. The issue escalated, involving the administration and even the police.
Kabri: A unique controversy emerged at the Government Senior Secondary School in Kabri village, Panipat, on Monday. Children arriving a few minutes late were denied entry into the school, and the gates were locked. The incident sparked outrage among the children, parents, and villagers. Many parents, considering it inappropriate, even called the police, further escalating the matter.
Anshika, a 8th-grade student, stated that she reached school at 8 AM but was two minutes late due to the rain. Following this, the gate was locked, and the Principal asked them to go home.
Children Accuse After Being Denied School Entry
After being denied entry into the school, Vaishnavi from the 6th grade and Neha from the 7th grade also said that despite a minor delay, they were not allowed inside. One student mentioned that they walk from Manpur and are delayed due to the rain. They accused teachers of often arriving late themselves, but only students are punished.
Villagers opine that a delay of two to four minutes is not a significant issue, especially when children come to school from other villages. This led to villagers’ anger, and they lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner and the District Education Officer.
Principal States Rules Apply Equally to All
School Principal Naresh Atri stated that children had been warned for the past week to arrive at school on time. He mentioned that some children arrive by 8:30 or 8:40 AM, which affects their studies.
He clarified that the intention behind stopping the children today was solely to call the parents, and this rule applies equally to all 2000 students. The Principal asserted that this was not a punishment against any single child but a step taken to ensure punctuality.
Statement from the District Education Officer
District Education Officer Rakesh Bora said that the school timings are fixed at 8 AM, and all students must adhere to them. He added that children who arrived late were granted admission later and the Principal was instructed to prevent such situations from occurring in the future.
He appealed to parents and students for cooperation, stating that while adhering to rules is essential, it is equally important to be sensitive towards the children.
Villagers Express Concern Over Increased Pressure on Children
Villagers believe that the pressure on children has increased unnecessarily since the arrival of the new Principal. They consider it inappropriate to stop children for minor delays. Villagers and parents want the administration to issue clear guidelines to avoid such incidents in the future. This incident has highlighted the need to strike a balance between punctuality and children's rights in the school.
