‘Girl’s father didn’t apply for leaving certificates’

Four days following the deputy director of school educations directive to reinvestigate allegations of students losing four academic years due to the withholding of documents the management of Harmony School in Kharghar has issued a statement refuting these claims The schools director asserted that the parent never approached them regarding this matter and suggested that the parent was making these allegations with malicious intentionsAs per parent and complainant Kiran Kadam in 201819 he sought some time from the school management to make the payments in instalments But before the SSC board exams both his daughters were restricted from entering the school He said the school did not give in to his requests and appeals and his elder daughter missed the examHe said the school did not even issue a leaving certificate so she couldnrsquot register privately to appear for the examFollowing numerous complaints the deputy director of school education on September 8 issued an order to the education officer secondary Raigad instructing her to conduct a thorough reinvestigation in the caseBeena Thampi the director of the school said via an email No application was made to the school for the leaving certificate The certificate is not mandatory at all as per a resolution of the state government As per the RTE Act it is the duty of the parent to facilitate the basic education to their children and he approached the commission with the complaint after four yearsThe parent had approached for the school leaving certificate on March 8 2023 and the document was issued to him on March 17 The parent had also expressed gratitude towards the school in his letter for the cooperation in issuing the documentAbout the issue of outstanding fees Thampi stated The parent has not paid the school fees even for the year 2017 The school had never restricted the students from attending the school even after this The school has allowed all the 103 students to appear for the board exam in the year 201920 without considering the pending feesrdquoShe alleged that the parents never approached the school for financial help and did not bother to visit the school to find a solution to continue the studies of their children ldquoThe school has been helping many financially weaker students for many years to complete their education without charging any fees the email readThampi also refuted Kadams allegation that his two daughters were not allowed entry into the school She stated There is no restriction in the entry and exit of anyone to the school The school had not restricted even the entry of these studentsWhile Kadam in all his complaints mentioned that his daughters were in Std X and V in the academic year 201819 the school has said it is not true They were studying in Std IX and III in 201819 added ThampiAs per the leaving certificate issued by the school in March 2023 the elder girl was in Std X in 2019 when she left the school while the younger one was passed and promoted to Std IV as of May 2018Thampi also stated that Kadams claim that he lost his marketing job after the company he was working with shut down in 2014 seems false In her email reply to midday she stated In 2013 in the application form the parentrsquos occupation is mentioned as lsquoinsurance agentrsquordquoKadam told midday that the school is now trying to cover up the matter They say I never approached them They had disallowed us entry saying we would not be allowed in until we paid the fees Only when we filed complaints with the child rights commission and education department they issued us my daughtersrsquo leaving certificates Why was my elder daughter denied a hall ticket Can the school give this in writing to the education department and meJyotsana ShindePawar education officer secondary zilla parishad Raigad said We called the school and the parents and the matter has been resolved The parent doesnt have any more complaints The leaving certificates of the girls were issued and the child rights commission and deputy director of school education have been informed of thisKadam however said he has not taken his complaint back My younger daughter could appear for the Std VIII exams from another school only because the leaving certificate was issued in March 2023 She is now in Std IX Had they not issued the certificate in March my daughter would have lost another year Now my elder daughter will appear for the SSC exam in March 2024 After this loss why would I withdraw my complaint I demand action against the schoolMeanwhile despite repeated calls and messages Deputy Director of School Education Sandeep Sangave did not respondBox The case so farJanuary 31 2023 Kadam wrote a detailed complaint letter to the education officer secondary Raigad and Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights MSCPCR seeking its interventionFebruary 9 MSCPCR wrote to the education officer stating that both girls missed four academic years The commission directed the education officer to initiate a probe A clarification was sought about the case and the same letter was sent to the school managementJuly 17 The education officer wrote to the principal seeking clarification in the matter within four daysrsquo time or lose recognitionAugust 4 The MSCPCR wrote to the education officer once again reminding her to investigate the matter and submit a report to the commissionAugust 13 Kadam with the help of education activist Nitin Dalvi wrote to the department of school education and sports seeking its interventionAugust 29 Upper Secretary Kisanrao Palande from the department wrote to the state education commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit a report to the department September 8 Deputy Director of School Education Sandeep Sangave ordered the education officer to reinvestigate the matter