Gender apartheid in Chennai school

Chennai: In a strange move akin to apartheid by gender, the co-ed school SKNS PMC Vivekananda Vidyalaya Junior College in Perambur has segregated boys and girls in classrooms and asked them to enter and leave the campus through different gates.  Parents, angered by school’s decision, held a protest in front of the school on Monday morning.

“For no particular reason, the boys and girls in the schools were separated in this co-ed school from this academic year. From UKG to Class 12 they have separated the students,” a parent revealed. “We don't know the reason behind this move by the school management. In each class the first two sections are for girls. The school management is even punishing students who talk to their classmates of the opposite sex,” she added.

Another parent said even her little boy had asked her why his friend was shifted to another class. However, she added that the separate entries might have been implemented to avoid traffic congestion in the area. The school has two entrances, one from the east side which is the main entrance and the other from the west gate on the rear.  

One of the protesting parents said, “Before the school reopened, the management messaged the parents that there will be separate entries for boys and girls in the school.” As per the message, the girls are only allowed to enter and exit through the main entrance and boys were allowed inside by only the rear.  “The boys' entrance was situated in a narrow lane and when we wanted to raise the issue with the school management they called police instead,” he said.
The Vivekananda Educational Society has more than 20 schools in the city. But in none of them have such rules segregating students by their gender been implemented, he said. When DC contacted the school authorities for their comments, they said there was no issue with parents and whatever the problem was, it was sorted out in the morning itself.

After the parents protested, the school sent an SMS to all parents in the evening saying all the available gates can be used as per convenience. “All the available gates can conveniently be used. However, parents are requested to utilise west gate also to avoid traffic congestion at the main entrance,” Principal B.Usha Rani said in the message. The message did not, however, say anything about the segregation of boys and girls in classrooms.