Students of 'illegal' school must get two chances to take SSLC exam: Panel

The Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has come to the help of students at Swami Vivekananda School who were not allowed to take the SSLC examination as the school was found to be running without recognition.

The commission has ordered the Department of Public Instruction officials to pay a penalty of Rs 20,000 for the “injustice” to students. It also sought criminal prosecution of the school’s management and staff. The commission intends to donate the money collected by way of fine to the Ambedkar Home for the Aged and Home for Physically Handicapped, Bengaluru. The school is located at Sarai Palya near Nagavara, northeast Bengaluru.

“For no fault of theirs, the children were denied the opportunity to take the exams. The officials concerned, the school management and the staff must be held responsible,” Kripa Amar Alva, chairperson, KSCPCR, told Deccan Herald.

The commission hasn’t stopped at penalising the officials concerned. It wants the students to be given adequate opportunity to take the exam. It says the students must be allowed to take the supplementary exams. If they fail it, they should get another chance. They should get both the opportunities well before pre-university admissions begin.

“Every student gets two chances to attempt the exam. It is only fair that these children also get the opportunity,” Alva said.