Surgujiha language, denial of admission to a child cost the private school management dearly, fined

Ambikapur. Refusing to admit a four-year-old child in school on the grounds of speaking Surgujiha language and citing economic background has proved costly for the private school management.

The case is of Swarang Kids Academy (Peshagi Education Society) located at Choprapara, Ambikapur, where discrimination on the basis of language forced the administration to take strict action.

After the matter came to light through social media and news channels, Surguja Collector Ajit Vasant took it seriously and ordered immediate investigation.

During investigation, it became clear that the school management had refused to admit the innocent child only because he could not speak Hindi and used the local Surgujiha dialect.

Not only this, the institution also made an objectionable comment to the child’s father that children from ‘big families’ study in the school and the teachers are not able to understand the child’s language, hence he cannot be given admission.

On the instructions of District Education Officer Dr. Dinesh Kumar Jha, the investigation team formed under the chairmanship of Rumi Ghosh, Senior Principal, Government Higher Secondary School, Kedarpur, investigated the entire incident.

The investigation not only confirmed discrimination on the basis of language, but also revealed the shocking fact that this institution was operating without any departmental recognition. The school management has also accepted its mistake.

The administration has considered this act as a direct violation of the National Education Policy 2020 and the ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009’.

As a result, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 18 (5) of the said Act, the District Education Officer has imposed a financial penalty of Rs 1,00,000 (Rupees One Lakh) on Swarang Kids Academy. Also, the operation of the institution has been suspended with immediate effect until further orders.

The school management has been directed to deposit the penalty amount in the government treasury through a challan and submit a copy of it. At the same time, keeping in mind the future of the students, the Block Education Officer of Ambikapur has been instructed to establish contact with the parents of the children studying in the school and ensure that the children get admission in other suitable schools.