A shocking incident has led to the Bengaluru private school, Orchid International School, to be criticized for allegedly locking students in a dark room as a form of punishment for unpaid fees. The incident as reported by News18 has triggered outrage among the parents and education activists citing the significant psychological trauma inflicted on the children.
Parents Raise Concerns for Maltreatment
The parents say that this brutal handling has rendered their children psychologically damaged and may lead to their academic performance. On top of their outrage, the school reportedly dissuaded pupils from notifying authorities, raising further questions about accountability and the abuse of power. This case is not isolated.
Reports suggest similar incidents have occurred at other private schools in the past, where students have been confined to dark spaces, such as libraries or storerooms, as punishment for unpaid fees, tardiness, or even minor misbehavior. These acts are, it is thought, flagrantly a violation of the rights of the child and of the dignity of the child.
Parents of the children with the impact have filed written complaints with the Education Department and the Child Safety Protection Department. They require “immediate and tight” response to the school that is centered around license revocation and blacklisting. They argue that such punitive actions reflect poorly on the educational system and call for better regulations to protect children.
Education Department’s Response After Bengaluru School Was Accused of Locking Students in Dark Room Over Non-Payment of Fees
In response, the Department of Education has issued a caution to private schools not to employ coercive methods for fee recovery. Authorities guaranteed the parents that upon verification of the allegations, the licenses of the concerned institutions will be suspended. Also, the individuals will be blacklisted. They pointed out that no institution has the justification to bully students or compromise their quality of life for administrative purposes.
Earlier reports, such as one from Asianet News, highlighted a similar incident. Back then, six students were locked in a dark room for an entire school day. This recurring child protection abuse cases make an imperative need for more stringent enforcement of the child protection law.
Also, see: Government announces list of banned OTT channels for showing vulgar content