3 weeks ago
Glass piece in Ahmedabad school meal sparks Malala books row
On Monday, a boy in Class 8 at a school in Ahmedabad was eating lunch when something hard hurt his mouth.
It was a tiny piece of glass.
He swallowed part of it and gave the rest to his teacher.
His parents were upset because the school would not hand over the glass piece so the doctor could examine it.
Many parents came to the school the next day to complain.
Some parents also said the school was forcing students to read books by Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank, and they thought this was unfair.
The school said these books are part of its Book Club and are meant to teach students about empathy and the world.
The education officer asked the school to explain what happened and ordered an inspection.
The school said it would strengthen its food-safety rules and gave younger students a holiday on Wednesday.
A Class 8 student at Anand Niketan School's Shilaj campus in Ahmedabad found a piece of glass in his lunch on Monday and swallowed part of it.
His father Malav Shah demanded the school hand over the remaining glass chip so doctors could decide whether an endoscopy was needed.
Parents protested at the school, alleging discrimination against a particular religion and that Class V students were made to compulsorily study books by Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank.
The school said the authors' works are widely recognised literature included in its Book Club to encourage empathy, reflection and global awareness.
The Ahmedabad District Education Officer issued a show-cause notice and ordered an inspection; the school declared a holiday for primary sections on Wednesday and gave classes 9-12 normal functioning.
- Who
- A Class 8 student of Anand Niketan School's Shilaj campus in Ahmedabad, his father Malav Shah, other protesting parents, the school management, and Ahmedabad District Education Officer Rohit Chaudhary.
- What
- A piece of glass allegedly found in a student's school lunch led to parent protests, allegations of discrimination over books by Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank, and a show-cause notice to the school.
- Where
- Anand Niketan School, Shilaj area, Ahmedabad.
- When
- The glass was found on Monday; protests and the show-cause notice came on Tuesday; the school declared a holiday for primary sections on Wednesday.
- Why
- Parents demanded accountability and the return of the glass piece for the child's medical treatment, and alleged discrimination over compulsory reading of certain books; the school said it took corrective measures and that the books are part of its Book Club.
Parents' Position
School's Position
Handling of the glass piece
Parents' Position
Parents said the school was behaving irresponsibly, refused to hand over the glass piece needed for the doctor's diagnosis, and no teacher was present at the hospital.
School's Position
The school said it took immediate corrective measures, including changes in supervisory responsibility and a review and strengthening of hygiene, food-safety and quality-control protocols.
Malala and Anne Frank books
Parents' Position
Parents alleged Class V students were made to compulsorily study books by Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank, and accused the school of discriminating against a particular religion.
School's Position
The school said the works of these internationally recognised authors are part of its Book Club aimed at age-appropriate reading, empathy and global awareness, and noted that daily shlokas and yoga continue.
Conflicting messages to parents
Parents' Position
Parents criticised the school's confusing messages, including an announcement about staff taking a 'mental health break' after 'extreme harassment' by some parents.
School's Position
The school retracted the message within an hour and said a teacher who had access to the messaging platform sent it; action was taken against the teacher and a corrected message was shared.
Key facts
- School
- Anand Niketan School, Shilaj campus, Ahmedabad
- Incident
- Piece of glass found in a Class 8 student's lunch of ladyfinger, dal, chapati and rice
- Incident date
- Monday
- Student's treatment
- Taken to a hospital; doctor needed the glass piece to decide whether an endoscopy was required
- Books in dispute
- Works by Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank in the school's Book Club
- School's response
- Immediate corrective measures, changes in supervisory responsibility, and review of hygiene, food-safety and quality-control protocols
- DEO action
- Show-cause notice and immediate inspection ordered by Ahmedabad District Education Officer
- Holiday
- Holiday for primary sections on Wednesday; classes 9-12 to function as usual
Quotes
Malav Shah
Father of the student who swallowed the glass chip
“We accept that there can be human error but the school management has been behaving in a very irresponsible manner.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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