Kozhikode: School asked to give grace marks

KOZHIKODE: The Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR)  has directed a school in Kozhikode to give grace marks for their eight guides. The school had earlier denied them grace marks because they did not have the prescribed number of attendance to be eligible for it.

However, the commission found that the school stipulated attendance criteria only towards the end of the academic year and hence a violation of child rights. Of the 24 students, only 16 were given grace marks, and others termed it discriminatory.

Hence the commission directed the school to issue a new order granting grace marks to Ashitha John, Anita Johny, Nithara Tom, Jeeva Jayaprakash, Manju Sudhakar, Sharanya K.R., Ann Sangeetha James and Fida Yousuf, students of St Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Kallanode. KeSCPCR member Nazeer Chaliyam issued the directive.

“If the government or the education department wants to issue circulars or orders for the students, they should ensure that the particular notice was issued at least 15 days before the academic year starts. And in any case, they should make sure that the order does not create trouble for the students,” it reads.

The school has been given two months to revert its earlier order and to inform the commission. However, school principal Mathew Thomas said the attendance circular was an old one and that the school was given the directive to permit only 16 students.