Student cannot be given TC without PTA’s nod

No student can be given TC without consultation with the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), instructed the director of school of education following a meeting with parents’ associations and school managements.

Criminal proceedings can be initiated against the school if it fails to form the parent-teacher association and failure to install CCTVs to ensure safety of children.

Schools should also take necessary steps to prohibit corporal punishment and action should be initiated against violators.

G. Kishan, commissioner and director of school education, has also asked schools to use the toll free numbers 1098, 18004257462 and 18004253525 to prevent untoward incidents.

Seema Agarwal, member of the Hyderabad School Parents’ Association (HSPA), said, “If these steps are followed properly then it could lead to great changes. Or else this might turn out to be a routine instruction that the government keeps issuing and the schools keep ignoring.”

She added, “Another welcome sign is the government agreeing to HSPA’s long-pending demand that no student can be given TC without constitution and consultation of the PTA. This is a big first step towards empowering and protecting students and parents interest.”

Ashish Naredi, member of HSPA, said, “We had also asked the government to issue a quarterly status report on the number of schools that have constituted PTAs. Such a status report will bring in transparency.”

Naganti Narayana, State President, Telangana Parents Association who was also present at the meeting, said, “Private schools will be least bothered to follow these orders like other orders issued earlier.”