SRI LANKA: Degrading treatment of students by School Principal after a demand for further fees 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to inform you of the recent actions by the School Principal at Bekkegama Junior School, Panadura, to degrade her students and deny them of their right to education. W. Charmali Fernando, Sayura Dilshan and P. Ravishka Maduramy are three six-year-olds who gained admission to the year one class at Bekkegama Junior School at the beginning of this year. However, despite the parents having paid the children’s school fees prior to their enrolment, the School Principal is now demanding further payment. As the parents are unable to pay any further costs, the School Principal has resorted to removing the desks and chairs of the children and forcing them to sit on the floor while they attend to their lessons.

Such degrading treatment of these students by the School Principal and her insistence that the parents pay further fees for their children’s education is a matter that must be addressed. We ask that you write to the Minister for Education calling for his intervention in this matter. Disciplinary action should be taken against the School Principal for her handling of this situation. Regardless of whether further fees are required or not, the degrading treatment she is inflicting on these students must be stopped. The matter of the school fees must also be settled and the students be able to study in an environment that is conducive to their learning. Finally, the police must also be reprimanded for failing to pursue this case, as the political influence of the School Principal is irrelevant to the police carrying out their duties.

Urgent Appeals Desk
The Asian Human Rights Commission
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Victims: W. Charmali, Sayura Dilshan and P. Ravishka Maduramya, grade one students at Bekkegama Junior School, Panadura.
Perpetrator: School Principal, Bekkegama Junior School, Panadura
Period of office: 28 January 2005 to date

Details of the case:

W. Charmali Fernando, Sayura Dilshan and P. Ravishka Maduramya are three 6-year-olds who gained admission to the year one class at Bekkegama Junior School at the beginning of the year. Accordingly, on January 28 the children were taken to school by their respective parents.

At the time of admission the parents say that they paid the school Rs. 48/, as required by the sate, as well as Rs. 500/, on the insistence of the School Principal. However, the Principal subsequently insisted that the parents make a further payment of Rs. 2000/ per child for being admitted to the school. Unable to afford such a payment, the parents failed to pay the further amount.

The Principal continued to harass the parents for the Rs. 2000/. When they failed to pay up, the Principal removed the desks and chairs used by the three children and forced them to sit on the floor while attending to their school lessons. This degrading and insensitive act by the School Principal has caused great anguish to the three children who feel humiliated by their treatment. All three now refuse to go to school.

The parents have complained to the Pandara Police regarding this matter. However, the police claim that due to the political influence wielded by the Principal as well as her connections with a local politician, they are unable to take any action.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to the Minister for Education and express your concern about this matter.

 

 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER