Taking strong note of a disturbing incident at the School of Eminence in Ludhiana, Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Friday suspended the Principal after a video surfaced showing students being forced to carry sandbags as part of ongoing construction work at the school.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of students in government schools, particularly in light of the fact that this was allegedly the third or fourth consecutive day that students were made to engage in such labour, despite the critical academic period leading up to board exams.
The video, which quickly went viral, shows students carrying heavy sand-filled bags and performing other labour-intensive tasks, instead of attending their regular classes. The incident occurred at the Government Senior Secondary School (School of Eminence) for boys, located in the Jawahar Nagar area. It was revealed that the school's ongoing construction of new toilets was the reason behind the labour demands placed on the students, as authorities reportedly found it more convenient to have students assist with the work rather than hire additional laborers.
Minister Harjot Singh Bains took immediate action after being made aware of the incident, expressing his outrage over the breach of student rights. In a post on social media, the Minister emphasized that such behaviour from educational staff is unacceptable. “Such incidents are intolerable, and I have instructed that all schools adhere strictly to the principles of respect and safety for students. This behaviour will not be tolerated,” Bains said.
The principal, Kuldeep Singh, was suspended, and the Campus Manager was also dismissed following the incident. Earlier, the principal had explained that the school was undergoing construction work for new toilets, but when questioned about the use of students as labourers, he assured that the teacher responsible for directing the students would face departmental action. Senior officials from the Education Department have since launched an investigation into the matter.
The Minister reiterated that the education system must prioritize the well-being and dignity of all students, and any actions that undermine these principles would result in severe consequences.
Himachal CM inspects Schools in Dharamshala
Dharamshala: Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on the occasion of Balika Diwas, visited the Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Dharamshala at Kangra and addressed the girl students and announced a gift of Rs. 1000 each for all 351 girls enrolled at the school. He shared his personal experience of studying in a government school and acknowledged the lack of confidence among students of these schools. He assured that the state government was taking decisive steps to instil confidence among these children. It would help them in becoming responsible and capable citizens. During his visit, the Chief Minister interacted with the students in order to understand their needs and concerns in a better way. He also visited the Government Senior Secondary School (Boys) in Dharamshala and reviewed the facilities being provided to the students.