CHENNAI SCHOOL FAILS GIRL IN LKG

Violating the no-detention policy, Adyar school has detained a girl in LKG, citing she doesn't have the "ability to write down all the alphabets or numbers."

According to TOI, the school principal said the action was taken with her parents' consent as the girl failed the Annual exam. But the parents claim they were forced to consent and that the girl had no issues writing numbers and reciting alphabets at home.

The 4-year-old girl joined LKG last June. Her father is an MTC government bus driver. He said that the school never gave report cards and did not brief him on her progress in school.

After the final exams, on March 14, the parents were called to school for discussion. Her mother informed that the school gave them two options: to get TC and join another school or repeat LKG.

“We are not in a position to pay the admission fee again in a different school. So we paid ₹15,275 so that she can study LKG again in the same school. Besides this, we were asked to submit a letter stating that we were willing to put my daughter in the same class again,” she added. Though, the school has denied it, saying that the parents wanted to put the child in the same class and that it would be harder for her when she goes to "higher classes." The parents now want the school to return the fees and to take their child out of the school.

Senthil Arumugham of NGO Satta Panchayat Iyakkam said that government should take action against such schools that violate provisions in the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, that bars schools from detaining children up to Class VIII.