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Journalism of Courage
March 23: In addition to tough Hindi questions, students of 14 schools answering their Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination at St Joseph’s High School at Wadala, had to also cope with high-decibel Kutchi wedding celebrations being held within the school premises this afternoon. As the wedding organisers whipped up a rollicking party, the 300 students from 14 schools answering their Hindi paper tried desperately to shut out the cacophony of speakers blaring out the latest Bollywood chartbusters.
The school’s principal, Father Vivian D’Souza, said that the premises, which belonged to the Church, were rented out in advance and hence it was impossible to ensure that the function did not coincide with the SSC examination.However, Ramakant Pandey, principal of the nearby Bansidhar Aggarwal High School and Junior College, which is also a centre for the SSC examination, says trustees of educational institutions are barred from renting out their premises during working hours. Hence, the trustees of StJoseph’s School have violated the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Act, said Pandey, a member of the Mumbai Division of the Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
“I approached the school’s security personnel and asked them to request the revellers to control the din while the exam was in progress. But that did not help,” Pandey explained. He said he would report the incident to the board.When contacted, the rector and manager of St Joseph’s School, Fr Boni D’Souza, said that he did not have the time to clarify matters today. “I will answer queries tomorrow,” he said. Though several students told this newspaper on the condition of anonymity that the reception had indeed disturbed their concentration, Principal Fr Vivian D’Souza claimed he had not received any complaints. “In fact, at about 11 am, I sent my men to tell the revellers not to get too boisterous,” he said.
