KOTTAYAM: Uncertainty prevails over the fate of the five HIV positive students of Pampady who were unable to attend classes at Mar Dionysius Lower Primary School on account of opposition from the parents of their schoolmates.

Now, the students, who have not entered their school campus for over three months, are apprehensive about whether they will be able to take the annual examinations at their school or will have to appear for them at a separate centre. Even the school authorities are not forthcoming about whether the five children will be allowed to take the examinations at the school.

"We have received a letter from the Director of Public Instruction stating that the students should be allowed write the annual examinations. But it is not specified whether they should write the examinations at the school or at some other centres," the school authorities said when contacted.

The annual examinations at the lower primary school will begin on March 22.

Says Sr. Alpho Grace, who is in charge of the children at Asha Kiran where they are staying, "We have been giving private tuition to the students. While one of them is a nursery student, two are Class I students and the others are in Classes II and III respectively. A special teacher has been appointed for taking care of the educational needs of the students."

The children were turned away from the school where there had been studying from the beginning of the current academic year on December 4, 2006, following stiff opposition from the leaders of the parent-teacher association. The authorities soon launched a high profile campaign for the rehabilitation of the five children and the State Aids Control Society too chipped in with awareness campaigns.

However, the parents refused to budge from their stand.

Last month, the authorities at a high-level meeting attended by Education Minister M.A. Baby, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, higher authorities of the Health and Education departments, representatives of the school and of Asha Kiran, the rehabilitation centre, took some major decisions.

The meeting decided to rehabilitate the students at the same school. The services of the teachers would be protected if there was mass drop-out of students from the school as had been threatened by the parents.

It was also decided that the application of transfer certificates of students who were moving out on account of the rehabilitation of the HIV Positive students should be directed to the DPI (since it amounted to human rights violation).

Says Sr. Grace, "In the absence of a clear directive on the issue, the school authorities are unable to take a strong stand. Now, I will not be surprised if they arrange a separate centre for the children."

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