Private schools to boycott Teachers’ Day

New Delhi: Many private schools in the city have decided to boycott Teachers’ Day this year in protest against the arrest of a principal and two teachers over what they call “false allegations”.

“It is highly unfortunate that our fellow principal and two teachers of a school in East Delhi were arrested by the police on the basis of false allegations. They spent 35 days in jail. The investigations have not found any evidence against the teachers as well as the principal. It is highly unfortunate that the principal and teachers have been arrested in this manner,” said a statement by Affordable Private Schools’ Association.

The police had arrested the principal and two teachers of a private school in Mayur Vihar in July, four months after a 15-year-old girl committed suicide alleging harassment. The girl — a student of Class 9 — committed suicide at her residence on March 20 in Noida sector 52.

The family members had alleged that she was under stress due to her poor performance in two subjects in the exams.

“There are so many cases and instances that the police have arrested teachers and principals in unproven allegations and false charges. It is a matter of shame for our society in which without knowing the facts and circumstances of the case, parents asked the immedi-ate arrest of the principal and teachers,” the statement said.

“Therefore it has been decided by the members of the association that our fellow schools will not celebrate this Teachers day on 5th September, 2018 and we are ready to support any protest to uphold the respect, safety and security of our teachers,” it added.