Govt to investigate alleged incident of corporal punishment in Srinagar private school: Education Minister

Srinagar, June 11: Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo on Wednesday said the School Education Department will investigate the alleged incident of corporal punishment reported in a Srinagar Private School.

Talking to reporters here, Sakina Itoo said instructions have already been given to the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) to investigate the matter.

"The issue has already come to my notice and I have instructed the Director school education Kashmir to start an investigation into the incident so that factual position comes to fore," the education minister said.

On Tuesday, Altaf Ahmad Dar, a parent of Presentation Convent School Srinagar alleged that her daughter was hospitalised after being subjected to corporal punishment by the school teacher.

The student was identified as Ayaat Altaf of class 3rd primary.

The family claimed that the student was given corporal punishment for not carrying her copy to the school.

Meanwhile, the management of Presentation School Srinagar dispelled the allegations of corporal punishment saying the student was not beaten by the teacher.

In a statement issued to Greater Kashmir, the school management said that one of its students namely Aayat Altaf, daughter of Altaf Ahmad Dar of class 3rd primary complained of headache during 7th period.

"The class teacher immediately escorted her to the school health room and her parents were contacted telephonically on 9419000824 at 2pm. Upon being informed, the parent advised that the child be given a tablet as she has a history of migraine," the statement reads.

It reads that accordingly the medication was administered in the presence of the school health staff and the class teacher while the child was made to rest in the health room.

"The health room is equipped with CCTV cameras and the fact that the child was properly attended to can be ascertained from the footage," it reads.

The statement reads that the parent arrived at the school around 2.35pm and upon his arrival, instead of checking on the child calmly, he began shouting and questioning her in a loud and agitated manner.

"The school staff repeatedly requested him to allow them to take the child to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention, emphasizing that any concerns he had could be addressed thereafter," it reads

But, the child, as per the school statement, was made to board the school vehicle and was accompanied by School Secretary Rameez Kawoosa and the class teacher Nighat Ali in order to take her to Modern Hospital "which is the nearest hospital so that the child could be attended to by a specialised doctor."

"Despite requests, the father forcefully took the child out of the school vehicle and insisted on taking her to the Children’s Hospital, Bemina, approximately 15 kilometres away," it reads.

The statement reads that being concerned about the health of the child, the school Secretary and the class teacher respecting his decision to take the child to a hospital of his choice, followed his vehicle in the school transport to ensure the student’s safety.

"However, en route, father made an abrupt U-turn at Jawahar Nagar and upon being asked stated he was heading to Press Colony. At this point, the school staff, sensing that the focus was no longer on the child's medical care but rather on creating an unnecessary disturbance and hype, returned to the school," it reads.

The school management has categorically denied mishandling, mistreatment given to the student.

"The student was not even scolded by any teacher. The child, as admitted by her father, suffers from a medical condition (migraine), and the school provided all necessary care," the statement reads.

It reads that the school maintains a strict child safeguarding policy, which every staff member is bound to follow.

"There has been no incident of violence or physical abuse with the child by the teacher concerned, as alleged by the father. In the Facebook post also, the father does not attribute the knowledge of any violence to the child but has used the word reportedly," the statement reads.