Top administrators at the Seventh Day Adventist Higher Secondary School in Maninagar were sacked following the murder of a Class 10 student on campus, which has sent shockwaves through Gujarat’s education community and across India.
Ahmedabad District Education Officer (DEO) Rohit Chaudhary ordered the immediate dismissal of principal G Immanuel, administrator Mayurika Patel, and other responsible staff members, citing “gross negligence” in their handling of the episode.
The impact of the tragedy could be gauged from the fact that at least 70 parents arrived at school seeking Leaving Certificates (LCs) for their children.
According to reports, nearly 9,000 students are enrolled. Most parents requesting LCs were from Classes 6 to 12. Class 9 had the highest number of requests.
Some parents asked when the school would reopen. The DEO assured them that LC requests will be handled properly. He also promised that students’ education will continue without disruption.
Even as authorities have held the school accountable for negligence, dialogues involving educationists, psychologists, and administrators are now shaping preventive strategies to ensure such an episode that rocked Gujarat never occurs again.
Earlier, the DEO had issued a notice questioning why the school’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) should not be revoked. Senior officials from the Pune-based management of the institution had rushed to Ahmedabad to defend their case, but their argument that the principal failed to communicate the severity of the incident was not accepted.
Chaudhary reportedly had a meeting with school principals and administrators. The discussions focused on reforms to protect students.
According to a national daily, the meeting began with suggestions from psychologists and education experts. They believed that student well-being must be a shared responsibility between schools and parents.
It was proposed that schools assign a ‘peer guardian’ or ‘swajan mitra’ in every class, a student designated as a confidant, to whom peers could voice their concerns, allowing for early intervention.
Others advocated for mandatory parenting education. It was suggested that just like degrees were required for teachers, clerks, and other professionals, similarly there should be a parenting course.
There was a recommendation for a mandatory 10-hour programme for parents before securing nursery admission for their children. Suggestions included having parent-teacher meetings with focus on equipping guardians with the tools to support their children rather than just highlighting faults.
The DEO, along with several trustees and school heads, has stressed on strong reforms. One educationalist said his school implemented safety protocols after the 1992 riots. This was in line with the education department’s guidelines.
Others backed suggestions for stricter monitoring during dispersal of school.
They recommended that teachers and staff be stationed at important points until all students safely boarded their transport.
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