Parents allege students humiliated, photo shared on WhatsApp group: Hindustan Antibiotics School faces probe

Requesting anonymity, the parent of a Class 7 student told The Indian Express, “The school had no communication with parents regarding the fees. They told the students a couple of times and my child reminded me about the fees, but I could not pay it due to financial constraints. But why was my child humiliated? Is it right to humiliate children and their parents on WhatsApp groups over fees?”

“It is my fault that I was not able to pay the fees. What is the child’s fault? Why single them out in the class and take their photos? It is only natural that now the other kids will make fun of them for not having paid the fees,” he added.

After receiving the message on the WhatsApp group on Monday, the parent approached the Republican Party of India (Athawale), which helped him file a complaint with the PCMC.

Sangita Bangar, administration officer at PCMC’s education department, told The Indian Express, “We have formed a three-member committee, including myself and two other members, to investigate the issue. As today is a leave for both the department and the school, we will visit the school tomorrow. We have conducted a primary inquiry and found out that due to some students’ fees not being received, a class teacher clicked photos of the students and shared it in the parents’ group. We will investigate tomorrow and find out why and how the teacher did this and what this fee was regarding.”

Asha Mane, vice-principal of Hindustan Antibiotics School, told The Indian Express such photos should not have been taken and circulated by the teacher. She assured that an internal inquiry has been set up by the school against the teacher and that the PCMC education department had also informed them that they were conducting an inquiry against the teacher. Mane added that the parents had not approached the school before taking their complaint to the PCMC.