The Hindu : New Delhi News : Minister for stern action against erring school principal, staff

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Saturday, Sep 23, 2006
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New Delhi

Minister for stern action against erring school principal, staff

Staff Reporter

Unfortunate that children were put to risk: Arvinder Singh Lovely

NEW DELHI: Taking a serious note of the incident in which deaf and dumb students of NDPC School in Mayur Vihar Phase-I here were abandoned by the bus staff and accompanying teachers during the `Delhi bandh' on Wednesday, Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely on Friday directed the State Social Welfare Department Secretary to take stern action against the school Principal and other staff.

Taking note of news reports about the suffering of the innocent children who were virtually abandoned in the bus and left to fend for themselves for almost eight hours during the bandh, Mr. Lovely said it was unfortunate that not only the norms for travel of school children in buses were violated but also the safety of children was put to risk.

"Anything could have happened as angry mobs were roaming the streets on that day. It was most insensitive on the part of the bus staff as well as the school staff to have left the children on their own and take off for secure and safe destination. Such indifferent and callous attitude will not be tolerated and action would be taken in this case," he asserted. Mr. Lovely said he had already written to the Secretary, Social Welfare Department, directing stern action against the school Principal for negligence. He said it was mandatory to post a teacher in every school bus and any institution that violated this norm would face stern action. The students were also not aware as to what was happening outside and how much time it would take to reach home safely resulting in their parents facing anxious moments about the whereabouts of their wards.

The Education Minister said the matter would be inquired into and strict action taken against the erring officials. "The school management was fully responsible for ferrying the students as per the school guidelines and it must be ensured that in future at least one school teacher and staff of school accompanies the students in every school bus till all the children reach their destination."

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