Failed class 9 students seek second chance, stage protest

Students of government schools who could not clear class 9 exam for the academic session 2014-15 staged a protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s home in Civil Lines on Sunday demanding a second chance. Even many students failed in class 11 exams this year.

Scores of students and their parents took to streets on Sunday. They reached the CM’s home around noon and staged a sit-in.

“We want that the Directorate of Education should give these students another chance. They should be taught for two months, June and July and asked to take test again in August,” said a parent.

“Those who clear the test should be promoted to the successive classes.”Students shouted slogans – “Don’t spoil our careers” and “We deserve a second chance”.

“We need teachers to help us learn the subjects. We also need government’s support to continue with our studies,” said a student.

According to All India Parents Association (AIPA), nearly 1 lakh students who got to government schools failed in class 9 this year, some of them for the second consecutive time.

“The administration is playing with their future. First, there are no teachers in government schools, then how can we expect them to understand a subject.

 Second, the authorities fail them,” said Ashok Agarwal, president of AIPA.

The Directorate of Education declined to comment on the issue. 

The association waited to meet the CM for nearly one hour. “But we were told he was busy. The government should understand the urgency of the matter,” said Agarwal.

To bring the issue to notice, the AIPA has also written to the CM. “The Delhi government should either consider promoting these students to class 10 or at least give them a second chance to clear the exams. It should hold remedial classes for them,” the letter said.

“If our demands are not met we will stage a bigger demonstration next week,” said Agarwal.