Mumbai civic body bars CJP from inspecting civic schools without permission

The CJP has sought permission to continue its school-inspection, arguing that citizens should be able to raise concerns over facilities and student welfare

The civic education department has barred volunteers of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) from entering municipal schools without permission. The CJP, campaigning for student rights, has launched a country-wide ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign, to inspect civic and government schools and conduct a social audit.

Members of the Cockroach Janata Party during their ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign in Mumbai. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

On Wednesday, the CJP inspected the Mumbai Public School in Colaba and its activists attempted to visit Nadkarni Park Municipal School in Wadala on Thursday. However, senior CJP members were barred entry as they had not sought permission.

CJP seeks access to civic schools for student-rights campaign

The CJP met civic education officer Kirtivardhan Kiritkudve on Friday to discuss the issue. CJP state coordinator Pranay Ahire said, “The organisation believes citizens have a right to raise questions about public schools.” Referring to Article 21A of the Constitution and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, Ahire said, “Our aim is not to obstruct government work. We want to understand the problems in schools, including water, toilets, teaching and other basic facilities, and help the administration solve them.”

A senior BMC officer said the CJP has been asked to submit a “collective proposal”, which would include other groups taking part in the campaign, such as the All India Students’ Federation (AISF). “We will take a decision after that,” said the official.

CJP’s Ahire said, “We agreed to give a collective proposal on Monday, but we have asked them to respond within 48 hours. We are doing this for the future of students.”

AISF delegation also denied entry, raises demand for social audit mechanism

On Friday, an AISF delegation visited the Mumbai Public School in the Parel Poibawdi Municipal School building and sought a meeting with the principal. AISF Mumbai president Aamir Kazi said the delegation was not allowed to enter the school.

“Despite politely approaching the gatekeeper and principal, the AISF delegation was denied entry and the school gate was shut in our faces,” Kazi said. The members then sat peacefully outside the school and requested a meeting with the principal, but the school administration called the police instead.

AISF said it would meet the assistant commissioner concerned on Saturday to seek permission for a public social audit and demand a system through which students and citizens can raise concerns about municipal schools.

Civic body cites student safety, privacy and disruption concerns

The BMC said allowing individuals to enter without permission could affect the safety of students and disturb regular school work. Teacher-activist Bhausaheb Chaskar said the privacy of children and teachers must be protected. He raised concerns over photographs, videos and statements of students being used without parental permission. He said campaigns should not humiliate teachers and headmasters in front of students.