A School in Delhi Teaches Separate classes for Hindu and Muslim Students: Report
A section of teachers employed by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has alleged that a primary school in Wazirabad is segregating Hindu and Muslim students in different sections.
The attendance records of North MCD Boys’ School, Wazirabad village, Gali Number 9, consulted and analyzed by The Indian Express, until October 9, show the breakdown of students by section:
* Class IA: 36 Hindus, IB: 36 Muslims
* IIA: 47 Hindus, IIB: 26 Muslims and 15 Hindus, IIC: 40 Muslims
* IIIA: 40 Hindus, IIIB: 23 Hindus and 11 Muslims, IIIC: 40 Muslims, IIID: 14 Hindus and 23 Muslims
* VAT: 40 Hindus, IVB: 19 Hindus and 13 Muslims, IVC: 35 Muslims, IVD: 11 Hindus and 24 Muslims
* VA: 45 Hindus, VB: 49 Hindus, VC: 39 Muslims and 2 Hindus, VD: 47 Muslims
MCD schools offer education only up to Class V and in accordance with the Right to Education Act, each section should ideally have 30 students at the primary level.
Teacher of Delhi suspended for placing Hindu and Muslim children in different classes
C B Singh Sehrawat, the teacher in charge of the school on July 2 after the transfer of the principal, deliberately denied the separation of the students on the basis of religion. “The reorganization of sections is a standard procedure that occurs in all schools. This was a management decision to try to do our best to see that there is peace, discipline and a good learning environment at school. The children fought sometimes. ”
When asked if the fights were based on religion, he said: “Of course, the children of this young man do not know about religion, but they fight over things.” Some children are vegetarians, so there may be differences, and so on. We have to take care of the interests of all teachers and students. ”
A source at the school, however, said the reorganization of sections based on religion began only in July this year, after Sehrawat took over. The academic session began in April. “The director was transferred on July 2, after which he was placed in charge of a teacher until a new principal is released. He initiated these changes and teachers were not consulted in this regard. “When some teachers tried to mention him, he responded with aggression and told them that there was no cause for concern and that they should do the assigned work,” the source said.
According to the source, some teachers from the school went to the MCD zonal office in Civil Lines about 20 days ago to inform the authorities about the matter, but they did not submit their complaints in writing for fear of being attacked.
A senior official from the education department of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation said: “Now that we have received this notice, we will definitely investigate it. If the accusations are true, strict measures will be taken. ”
Parents of students studying at the school told The Indian Express that they were not aware of this reorganization. A mother of a Class IV student denied that such segregation took place until her son said, “There are no Hindu children in my class. We were together until a few months ago. A good friend of mine is no longer in the same classroom. ”
The mother of a Class I student, who was not aware of this development, said: “This is extremely wrong, if it is true. We believe that all children are the same. What will happen if they are treated this way at the school level? This is very disturbing. “