Cameraperson: Ankita Sinha
Video Editors: Veeru Mohan & Kammaljiit Kainth
An entire class of 26 students in Mumbai’s Good Shepherd School are in shock after they were failed in their 9th standard final exams. The reason? Students allege it’s because the school does not have permission to run 8th, 9th and 10th standard, but went ahead with it anyway.
The school has told us that we will only get our 7th standard leaving certificates, not beyond that. This is because the school isn’t registered beyond 7th standard. They had called for a meeting when we were in 6th-7th standard and told all parents that the school is registered till 10th standard.Snehal Rathod, student
When asked whether the parents of the students were aware about the school’s permission status, the families alleged they were assured that the school had licence to conduct 8th, 9th and 10th standard classes.
Almost every year during meetings, the school used to tell us that they have been registered and now our kids won’t face any trouble. Everything was fine till the 8th standard but then they failed our children in 9th. That’s when we found out that they didn’t have the required permissions.Daksha Rathod, parent
The school’s principal, however, claimed that parents were aware about the registration status all along.
We have filed for registration, the process is underway. When it gets registered, the parents will get to know. When my school was registered from 1st to 4th standard, I held a meeting and told the parents. Year before last, the school was registered from 5th to 7th standard. Now 26 students have failed but so many students before this left the school and took admission in another school for 8th, 9th & 10th. Why are these parents saying they don’t know anything?Hemlata Sawant, principal, Good Shepard School
Students now allege that they are being pressured to take a re-test and an oral exam but even if they clear the two, their options are still bleak as they won’t receive a leaving certificate for the last two years of their schooling.
When asked what was the point of the students appearing for a re-exam, principal Sawant said, “I personally ask other schools. If they are happy with me they make arrangements (for the students). I can’t tell you the name of the schools. (sic)” She also made it clear that this has happened in the past as well.
With two years of education unaccounted for, the entire class of students have decided to appear as private candidates for their 10th standard exams. As they plan to take action against the school, students demand their two years’ fees be returned.
Our parents have worked so hard and spent so much money to educate us. They must return our money for 8th and 9th standard if they can’t give us our leaving certificates.Vaishnavi Shinde, student
A government inquiry has been initiated, but it maybe too late for these 26 students who are caught in a blame game between the parents and the school.
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