“I will fight this to the end,” said single parent Vinita Joshi, who was asked to take her son Akash out of school last Saturday. “Akash has never failed in an examination before,” she says. “I will go on a hunger strike if I have to. I am not taking him out.”
Sanjay Jadav, however, is less confident of a positive outcome of Wednesday’s group meeting with Brother Pinto, the acting principal of St Columba’s. But he is willing to give it a shot. “I am still in shock... not going to take any decision until tomorrow,” he said.
The meeting has been fixed for 10 am.
While these parents are also preparing a petition to take to Education Secretary Rina Ray, others have already started looking for an alternative school.
Saurabh Gupta has contacted three institutions so far. “I am trying to pull strings with the contacts I have. How else will my son get admission to Class XII,” he says. Gupta won’t make it to the meeting tomorrow, but says: “I have a hope that the Brother will reconsider and let my son repeat Class XI in the school.”
Jayant Varma is lucky. He has already secured a seat elsewhere — he will be repeating Class XI at Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, from April. “It will be a new experience,” he says. “I am collecting my transfer certificate tomorrow.”
An avid football player, Sandip Saha is thinking of applying to a sports school in Chandigarh, if an appeal to Pinto fails. “It (the school) has both sports and academics, so it will be more supportive, I think,” says Saha.
James Fernandes has joined his parents in their search for a new school. “I surfed Modern School’s website today. We will visit the school later this week.”
According to Fernandes, Brother Pinto has said remarks in his transfer certificate will be altered so that he can be admitted directly to Class XII of any other school.
There are also some students who are panicking on the prospect of leaving St Columba’s. “It is difficult,” says Charles. “I have been there since kindergarten... it will be like leaving your family.” Friend Rahul Sahai adds: “I have always taken pride in saying that I am a Columban. No reputable school will take me...”
Talking to Newsline, Education Secretary Rina Ray said: “We have decided to investigate the matter. The school’s decision violates the relevant education Act and promotion rules.”
(Names of students and their parents have been changed on request)