Student sans transparent bag refused entry to school
View(s):A case of discrimination of a student, for failing to carry a transparent bag, has been reported from a school in the Northern Province, officials said.
A Grade 6 student of St Charles, Jaffna, was reportedly refused entry to school, as his bag was not transparent.
The student had explained that his father was disabled and could not afford to buy such a bag.
The mother had turned up at the school and told the Principal of their inability to buy a new bag, and demanded her child be given the ‘School Leaving Certificate’ (SLC), so that, she could admit him to another school. Consequently, the Principal had issued the certificate to the mother, through another teacher.
She had also lodged a complaint with the Zonal Education Director.
Zonal Education Director Chandra Rasa said they conducted an inquiry and found that the SLC had already been issued on the request of the mother.
“We have requested the Principal to re-admit the child. If the school fails, we will find an alternative school for the child,” he said.
Earlier the Education Ministry had directed schools not to insist on transparent bags.
- PCK