Now, Ryan school seeks undertaking from parents

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9

After Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, another case of seeking indemnity bonds from parents asserting no interaction with the media has come to the fore.

Ryan International School has sought a similar undertaking (a copy of which is with Chandigarh Tribune) from parents that read, “The school encourages parents/students to report their problems and grievances to the school management so that the same can be looked into and handled appropriately. The school does not approve the practice of the parents/students indulging in any anti-school activity or involving any third party or giving information to press/TV, etc, in the matters concerning the school and students. In case, a parent/student indulges in such acts, the school shall be at liberty to take appropriate action, which may include striking off the name of the student from the school rolls.”

The Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) has sought an explanation from Ryan International School within a day as seeking indemnity bonds from parents is an unlawful practice. The commission has asked the school that under which provisions/rules and regulation it is seeking and forcing parents to sign an undertaking.

Parents, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the school sought an undertaking. The Chandigarh Parents’ Association (CPA) has submitted a similar complaint to the CCPCR and District Education Officer (DEO).

School Principal Poonam Sharma did not respond despite repeated attempts.

Haven’t taken any undertaking: Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel School, in a reply to the CCPCR, wrote, “We are not accepting any undertaking from parents.” The school authorities rolled back the decision a day after the Chandigarh Parents’ Association filed a complaint against the school for forcing parents to sign an undertaking. In a circular issued by the school on Monday, it was stated, “Filling Page 37 in the diary is not mandatory. The page has an undertaking for parents stating that they will not interact with press/TV for grievances.” Nitin Goyal of the Chandigarh Parents’ Association, said, ‘We will give a befitting reply to the school as we have evidence to prove that the school sought an undertaking from parents.” The DEO has also sought an explanation from Mount Carmel regarding the matter.