An English medium school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in the district has triggered a controversy by introducing a special uniform to differentiate the students who lag in their studies.
The move by Al Farooque English Medium School, Pandikkad, invited the wrath of child welfare authorities, including the Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights.
The commission has registered a case against the school and has asked the principal for a report in two weeks. It also asked the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) and the District Child Protection Officer to submit a report about the incident within 15 days.
However, the school on Thursday withdrew the uniform reform after it became an issue.
The introduction of two types of uniforms for students on the basis of their academic performance made the students unhappy as they found it discriminatory and insulting.
Childline help
A section of students approached the Childline, which found that the school’s action discriminatory and against the best interests of the children.
Some children, in their anonymous complaints to the Childline, said they were shamed by the two-uniform reform introduced by the school.
One of them said people made fun of him as his sister studying in the same school was wearing a different uniform.
The Childline approached the District Child Welfare Committee seeking action against the school for causing mental tension to children.
School denies charge
School authorities, however, denied that they had segregated the children on the basis of their academic performance. They said that a special group was formed among the students with the purpose of motivating and guiding others. They said they did not get any complaint from parents or students as the motive behind the move was positive.