Lawyer Shakil Ahmed has approached the school education department alleging discrimination against his son, a standard-I student, by a BMC school run by NGO Akanksha.
The social activist has written to the department accusing the school of violating Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
Ahmed claimed two Akanksha-run schools denied his six-year-old son admission twice in March this year.
His son finally got admission to an Akanksha-run school at Kala Chowki in July after the lawyer approached BMC officials.
"No student can be denied admission under RTE Act, but they repeatedly did giving lame excuses. I can afford a good private school. But decided to enroll my son in a BMC school considering the reputation of Akanksha. To my shock, the NGO blatantly violated RTE Act," he said.
Even after his son was granted admission, Ahmed filed RTI queries.
"The queries revealed the Akanksha Kala Chowkie school had very few BEd/DEd teachers. Following my several formal complaints, the NGO is now discriminating against my son. The school took all students on an excursion on November 5, but my son was made to sit alone in a classroom," he claimed.
A petition filed in July by Ahmed is pending before Bombay High Court.
Despite several attempts, Shaheen Mistry, founder of Akanksha, was not available for comment.
However, in an email reply to Ashoka Fellows, an organisation of social entrepreneurs, she denied all allegations.
"The child is performing well. On numerous occasions, Ahmed sought information regarding demographics of school students and general operational practices and Akanksha always provided it in a timely manner," she said.
"Most Akanksha teachers are BEd/DEd. The allegation that the organisation tried to prevent admission of Ahmed's child is false. As per RTE Act, BMC schools are only allowed to accept children within one km radius for primary classes. This was explained to Ahmed several times."
Regarding the excursion, Mistry claimed Ahmed's son was "not purposely" left out. She said as per BMC rules, all parents had to sign letters granting permission for such excursions. However, claimed Mistry, Ahmed disrupted a meeting held for the purpose and was "verbally abusive and disrespectful to school staff".
"The staff was, therefore, forced to keep his son in school for want of a consent letter," she said.
Claim, counterclaim
Shakil Ahmed says schools run by NGO Akanksha denied his six-year-old son admission twice in March this year violting RTE Act
Akanksha Kala Chowkie school has very few BEd/DEd teachers. Following his several complaints, the NGO is discriminating against his son
The school took all students on an excursion on November 5, but his son was made to sit alone in a classroom
Shaheen Mistry, founder of Akanksha, says most Akanksha teachers are BEd/DEd As per RTE Act, BMC schools are only allowed to accept children within one km radius for primary classes
Ahmed's son was "not purposely" left out. As per BMC rules, all parents have to sign letters granting permission for excursions. Ahmed disrupted a meeting held for the purpose and staff was forced to keep his son in school for want of a consent letter
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bmc-school-discriminating-against-my-son-lawyer/1032169/0#sthash.vPIMAOvI.dpuf
The social activist has written to the department accusing the school of violating Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
Ahmed claimed two Akanksha-run schools denied his six-year-old son admission twice in March this year.
His son finally got admission to an Akanksha-run school at Kala Chowki in July after the lawyer approached BMC officials.
"No student can be denied admission under RTE Act, but they repeatedly did giving lame excuses. I can afford a good private school. But decided to enroll my son in a BMC school considering the reputation of Akanksha. To my shock, the NGO blatantly violated RTE Act," he said.
Even after his son was granted admission, Ahmed filed RTI queries.
"The queries revealed the Akanksha Kala Chowkie school had very few BEd/DEd teachers. Following my several formal complaints, the NGO is now discriminating against my son. The school took all students on an excursion on November 5, but my son was made to sit alone in a classroom," he claimed.
A petition filed in July by Ahmed is pending before Bombay High Court.
Despite several attempts, Shaheen Mistry, founder of Akanksha, was not available for comment.
However, in an email reply to Ashoka Fellows, an organisation of social entrepreneurs, she denied all allegations.
"The child is performing well. On numerous occasions, Ahmed sought information regarding demographics of school students and general operational practices and Akanksha always provided it in a timely manner," she said.
"Most Akanksha teachers are BEd/DEd. The allegation that the organisation tried to prevent admission of Ahmed's child is false. As per RTE Act, BMC schools are only allowed to accept children within one km radius for primary classes. This was explained to Ahmed several times."
Regarding the excursion, Mistry claimed Ahmed's son was "not purposely" left out. She said as per BMC rules, all parents had to sign letters granting permission for such excursions. However, claimed Mistry, Ahmed disrupted a meeting held for the purpose and was "verbally abusive and disrespectful to school staff".
"The staff was, therefore, forced to keep his son in school for want of a consent letter," she said.
Claim, counterclaim
Shakil Ahmed says schools run by NGO Akanksha denied his six-year-old son admission twice in March this year violting RTE Act
Akanksha Kala Chowkie school has very few BEd/DEd teachers. Following his several complaints, the NGO is discriminating against his son
The school took all students on an excursion on November 5, but his son was made to sit alone in a classroom
Shaheen Mistry, founder of Akanksha, says most Akanksha teachers are BEd/DEd As per RTE Act, BMC schools are only allowed to accept children within one km radius for primary classes
Ahmed's son was "not purposely" left out. As per BMC rules, all parents have to sign letters granting permission for excursions. Ahmed disrupted a meeting held for the purpose and staff was forced to keep his son in school for want of a consent letter
- See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bmc-school-discriminating-against-my-son-lawyer/1032169/0#sthash.vPIMAOvI.dpuf
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