The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the state board to allow a 15-year-old class X student with a learning disability to appear for her board examinations next month. The Commission, in its order on Tuesday, also asked the state board to modify its rules to accommodate students with special needs.
Renu Gupta, the student's single parent, had approached the Commission last year, accusing G.D. Somani Memorial School (ICSE) in Cuffe Parade of misleading her into pulling her child out of the school and transferring her to a state board school with an 'easier' curriculum because the girl was a "slow learner".
However, the state board had rejected her daughter's application as a private candidate saying that students appearing as private candidates must not be on the attendance roll of any institute after July 1 of the academic year, whereas her daughter had acquired her school leaving certificate on August 23. Worried that her daughter would lose the year, Gupta moved the Commission in last December.
"My daughter is well prepared for the exams and thankfully she will not lose a year now," said a relieved Gupta. She will, however, have to submit additional forms as part of the application along with a fat penalty of Rs. 8650 for the delayed submission. "The order does not exempt the late fee that applies to all students who submit late applications," said Laxmikant Pande, chairman of the board.
G.D.Somani Memorial school's principal, Brian Seymour, said: "We had always wanted to do good for the child and we had merely made a suggestion to the mother. It was her decision to move her child. We have six other students appearing for the exams this year in the same category." The commission has also ordered the school education department to initiate appropriate action against the G.D.Somani Memorial School for allegedly misleading the parent in the case.
Renu Gupta, the student's single parent, had approached the Commission last year, accusing G.D. Somani Memorial School (ICSE) in Cuffe Parade of misleading her into pulling her child out of the school and transferring her to a state board school with an 'easier' curriculum because the girl was a "slow learner".
However, the state board had rejected her daughter's application as a private candidate saying that students appearing as private candidates must not be on the attendance roll of any institute after July 1 of the academic year, whereas her daughter had acquired her school leaving certificate on August 23. Worried that her daughter would lose the year, Gupta moved the Commission in last December.
"My daughter is well prepared for the exams and thankfully she will not lose a year now," said a relieved Gupta. She will, however, have to submit additional forms as part of the application along with a fat penalty of Rs. 8650 for the delayed submission. "The order does not exempt the late fee that applies to all students who submit late applications," said Laxmikant Pande, chairman of the board.
G.D.Somani Memorial school's principal, Brian Seymour, said: "We had always wanted to do good for the child and we had merely made a suggestion to the mother. It was her decision to move her child. We have six other students appearing for the exams this year in the same category." The commission has also ordered the school education department to initiate appropriate action against the G.D.Somani Memorial School for allegedly misleading the parent in the case.
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