Schoolchildren serve refreshments to AAP leaders at function

Students of Government Senior Secondary School, Goindwal Sahib, were allegedly forced to abandon their studies and serve tea and refreshments to representatives of the AAP government and political leaders during a school function held recently.

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A video of the incident, meanwhile, went viral on social media, provoking comments from various sections of society, including political leaders. The video shows male students of senior classes holding plates with refreshments and eatables even as a teacher is asked why they do not have waiters serving instead.

Senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura strongly condemned the incident. Brahmpura stated that it was extremely reprehensible that while students should have been studying in their classes, the school administration made them serve political leaders, including the chief guest, Chairman of the Market Committee at Naushehra Pannuan, a Director of the Punjab Mandi Board and other AAP leaders.

Taking a swipe at the AAP government’s Delhi model and Sikhiya Kranti initiative, Brahmpura said, “Even though crores are being spent on advertisements to create the illusion of raising the standard of education, children in government schools are being made to work as waiters instead of being taught. Plastering existing walls and calling them ‘Schools of Eminence’ is nothing more than misleading the public and wasting public money.”

Brahmpura said he had filed a written complaint with the District Education Officer (DEO) concerned and the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights regarding “the gross violation of children’s rights”.

Meanwhile, DEO, Tarn Taran, Satnam Singh Batth, said, “We have not received any complaint from any political leader, but have issued a show-cause notice to the school management as soon as the incident was brought to our notice.”

He said the school now had 24 hours to reply.