HPSC Demands A Legislation to Protect Teacher, Principal and School Administrators

Under the leadership of Col Pratap Singh Submitted a  Representation to DC Gurugram 

Private School’s Management Made a 12 Points Demand

Mentioned a Series of Very Serious Allegations Against the Administrative Machinery

HPSC Decided a Token Closure of all Schools for one day on 30th January

Suvash Choudhary/Chief Editor

GURUGRAM : Most Acts and Rules of Haryana are biased, discriminatory and impractical which apply only to the private schools and not the Govt. schools.  After the RTE Act wherein the detention of a child or reprimanding them has created a situation where no teacher is willing to take the risk of rebuking students either for grooming or for discipline.  This has adversely affected the quality of learning  and discipline to which a child ought to submit for good growth. Therefore, there should be a Legislation that no teacher, Principal or school administrators shall be arrested until a criminal  investigation has been finalized.

The Haryana Progressive School’s Conference (HPSC), Gurugram Chapter, made this demand From the Govt. of Haryana by submitting a representation to Vinay Pratap Singh , DC Gurugram today. More than 80 representatives of different private schools expressed their anger before the administration against the murder of a principal of Swami Vivekanand Public School, Yamunanagar who was shot dead by a Class XII student on January 20th.  Under the leadership of Colonel Pratap Singh, President of HPSC, Gurugram Chapter, and chairman, Colonel’s Central Academy (CCA school), All members announced to close their schools tomorrow to protest against the biased policy of the Haryana  government.

In the representation they alleged that the age old reputed system of Indian education has been badly bruised with various faulty, uncalled for Rules, Regulations, Interference and activism against schools.  It has affected the bond between the teacher and the taught in the guise of child protection & child rights through  RTE and other state laws.

Underlining the root cause, they said that the parent’s desires to educate their wards in schools beyond their financial reach catalyze such situation. Infect,they ignore the fact that there are various levels of schools with different vision to meet the aspirations of parents.

The school management  representatives also mentioned  that the home environment is affected both ways where there is financial crunch and also abundance of wealth.  It has become a tradition now, that the parents turn their frustration towards the very same teachers who are putting their heart and soul in mentoring such wards.

They also explained that  Activists & NGO’s are also vitiating the education system. Such so called social organizations are indulged in inciting with non issues, creating a hype & rift between students/Teachers and Parents.  It is causing maximum harm to the education system.

In this letter Private school’s Principals made a series of very serious allegations that the emphasis of the administrative machinery is directed entirely to reining in the independent schools into submission to their authority and compliance of whimsical & egoistic and faulty Regulations and Orders.  The administrative functionaries insult, humiliate and also threaten the schools for de-recognization, withdrawing of affiliations in almost every letter/order including threats of filing FIR’s and seeking/manipulating Arrests of the Principal/school promoters.

Drawing attention of the Chief Minister they suspected that in the name of regulations the govt officials are destroying the fabric and pillars of quality education.

Mentioning the instance at Yamunanagar Rajiv Kumar Secretary HPSC Gurugram Chapter claimed that it is not the first of its kind, there have been numerous cases wherein students or parents have misbehaved & assaulted teachers and Principals. A staff member of Rotary Public School Gurgaon was recently murdered by a parent of an EWS child.

He informed that for the safety, honour and dignity of educationists in private independent schools, HPSC has decided a token closure of all schools for one day on 30th January .

Submitting the two pages very contentious letter Colonel Pratap Singh, President of HPSC, Gurugram Chapter elaborated the conditions and made 12 points demand  :

1. There should be a Legislation that no teacher, Principal or school administrators shall be arrested until a criminal investigation has been finalized.
2. All teachers, Principal and School Management be indemnified against FIR’s and arrests.
3. Autonomy of private schools must be respected.
4. Regulations may be issued as Advisories and not Impractical and Rude Orders with regard to internal functioning of schools, such as school timings and holidays etc.
5. Cases of violence and Rude Behavior by any Parent, Activist and Govt. servant against the Educationists/Schools must be investigated impartially and offenders dealt with promptly.
6. Police has no role in schools, unless there is a reported case of criminality for specific investigation. Police is a traumatizing effect on tender minds.
7. The officials posted to education department be carefully selected for maturity and sensitized with regard to school functioning and education system.
8. All matters related to functioning of schools and education at ground level be through a District Level Committee with representatives of independent schools and Educationists. No freelance activists/NGO’s be included in such committees.  Parent reps of respective schools may form part of it.
9. All Govt. Departments dealing with schools must respond to them promptly and respectfully. All Govt. officials be directed to show complete Respect while dealing with schools, teachers, Principals and Management.
10. Commercialization in school education is more by Govt. in various forms of taxes and charges levied on school expenses, GST,  Property Tax, Passenger Tax, Commercial rates for electricity etc.  This should end. The Govt. expenditure per child is more than most schools.
11. Political Leadership must show complete respect to the Teaching Fraternity and not pass loose comments and remarks against schools.
12. There should be a Tribunal to deal with all school related issues rather than being handled by the lower Judiciary.