UP school sealed after video of girls in burqas at I-Day event surfaces

The Basic Education Department has sealed a private school in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district after a video purportedly showing Hindu girl students wearing burqas and dancing at an Independence Day event surfaced on social media, officials said on Wednesday.

An inquiry conducted by education department officials found that the school was operating without the required recognition.

The school, located in Ausani Buzurg in the Babhanjot area, came under scrutiny after the video was circulated on social media, prompting the Basic Education Department to order an inspection.

District Basic Education Officer Amit Kumar Singh said he directed Block Education Officer (BEO) Riyaz Ahmed to inspect the school after the video surfaced.

During the inspection, officials found that the school was being operated without recognition, they said.

Ahmed said the department had directed the school management about a week earlier to stop operating the institution. However, the school continued to function despite the order.

After confirming that the school was operating without recognition, officials locked the offices of the manager and principal and the main gate before sealing the premises, Ahmed said.

A report on the inspection and sealing of the school has been submitted to the district basic education officer, he added.

Singh said officials have also directed that students enrolled at the unrecognised school be admitted to nearby government-run or other recognised schools.