The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has conducted raids on some private schools in Bengaluru over conducting classes during summer vacation. 

 

On Wednesday, KSCPCR’s Chairman Naganna Gowda visited a few private schools seeking to know why classes were conducted during the stipulated summer vacation period for children. 

 

Among the schools that they commission visited were Chaitanya E Techno School,  Rajajinagar, Carmel High School, Basaveshwarnagar and SJR School in the City. 

 

It maybe recollected that on May 18, the department of school education and literacy had sent out a reminder to all schools asking them not to conduct classes during summer vacation. As per an official order by the department, schools must remain shut between April 11 and 28 May for summer vacation. 

 

“There has been a representation from the KSCPCR that some schools across the City have not given students summer holidays,” the government’s official communication read. They have sought deputy directors of public instruction to look into the matter. 

 

RTE Students and Parents Association, Bengaluru had written to the KSCPCR in April seeking it’s intervention in this regard. 

 

Yogananda B N, general secretary, RTE Students and Parents Association said that this was in violation of child rights. “Private schools have not paid heed to the education department’s notices and have continued to conduct classes during summer vacation. In the name of extra classes, additional fee is being charged as well. Even as the Supreme court had withheld released of results for classes V, VIII and IX, without awaiting a government order on further measures, these schools illegally admitted students as well to the next class. Each year about 10% students seek admissions to a different school. Such students and parents were put in a fix because of these extra classes,” he said. 

 

Yogananda added that the deputy directors of public instruction and block education officers had colluded with private schools and paid no heed to child welfare or orders from higher authorities in the department.