A Class XII student has alleged she was kicked out of a Government school after she got married recently. The girl, 19-year-old Mehjabeen, a resident of Badli who studied in Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Badli, was allegedly refused to attend classes by the principal citing reason “that the company of a married student shall cast immoral influence upon other school children.” Mehjabeen has now written to Delhi lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung seeking help for re-admission so that she can continue her studies. Mehjabeen had attended classes from April 1 to 15, after which she went on leave as her marriage was scheduled for May 17.
The school closed for summer vacations and re-opened on July 1. However, having contracted dengue towards the end of June, she could not resume schooling. Her mother informed the school about her illness and her inability to attend classes and also proposed to submit a written application for medical leave.
However, school authorities refused to see reason. The mother also submitted her fees during her absence from school. “On recovering, I went to school on September 2 with my mother but the school principal, in unequivocal terms, refused to allow me to attend classes, citing the company of a married student would be an immoral influence on the other students,” the girl alleged in her letter to Jung.
Additional Director of Directorate of Education (DoE) Vinay Bhushan condemned such an incident and said that the department has not yet received any complaint as yet. “Marriage can never be the reason for a student’s expulsion from school. The school principal is definitely at fault. We have not yet received any complaint. Once we do, we will enquire into it and take action accordingly,” said Bhushan.