Register autistic boy on e-Punjab portal, edu body directs Jalandhar school

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, July 28

The District Regulatory Body (DRB) for unaided schools, in its judgement in the case of Hritesh Uppal, the autistic boy who was not registered on e-Punjab portal, directed Cambridge International School (Co-Ed) to enrol him in Class IX and register him on the portal as well so that he can continue his studies. Besides, the regulatory body has ordered all inclusive education schools to set up special cells to cater to the needs of students with special needs.

More than 8% fee hike against act: DRB

In other complaints related to fee hike, Para Mount Public School, Sarup Public School, Guru Ramdass Public School, Dhogri, and and St Joseph Convent School, Junior were told to abide by the Punjab Fee Act, which mandates no more than 8 per cent hike in fees annually. They were told to either adjust or refund the extra charged fees.

Parents unhappy

The parents of Hritesh Uppal alleged no strict action was taken against the private school and instead they were set free with a warning. “Three years of my son were wasted, now with the DRB’s decision, he is forced to repeat Class IX. My son is not normal

like other students… the members failed to understand his situation,” alleged Meera Uppal.

Decision just

ADC-cum-DRB Chairman Amit Sareen said DRB delivered its judgement after going through the facts presented by both parties. The school presented the consent letter signed by Hritesh Uppal’s parents, wherein they had agreed that he wouldn’t sit in board exams and he only be allowed to attend classes.

In other complaints related to fee hike, Para Mount Public School, Sarup Public School, Guru Ramdass Public School, Dhogri, and and St Joseph Convent School, Junior were told to abide by the Punjab Fee Act, which mandates no more than 8 per cent hike in fees annually.

While Para Mount Public School and Sarup Public School were told to either adjust or refund the extra charged fees, the complaint against Guru Ramdass Public School was dismissed as it has been closed. The case against St Joseph has been adjourned and would be heard in the next hearing, informed advocate Manu Jindal, a member of the body.

He said the DRB has issued orders to all inclusive education schools to hire trained faculty and ensure students with special needs faced no problem. He also made an appeal to the parents of students with special needs not to put any pressure on their children for studies and instead adopt a holistic approach.

Meanwhile, the DRB’s judgement in ‘e-Punjab registration case’ has not gone down well with the parents of Hritesh Uppal, who alleged that despite violation, no strict action was taken against the school and instead they were set free by simply issuing a warning.

“Three years of son were wasted, now with DRB’s decision, he is forced to repeat Class IX. My son is not normal like other students, but has an equal right to education. He is staring at a bleak future, and is not ready to attend the school again after what all happened with him, but the members failed to understand his situation,” alleged Meera Uppal.

ADC Amit Sareen, the chairman of the regulatory body, said after having gone through the facts presented by both parties in all four complaints, the body had delivered its judgement. In Hritesh Uppal case, ADC Sareen said, “The school presented the copy of the letter signed by the parents, in which it was clearly mentioned that the school apprised the parents about Hritesh being unfit to appear in board exams, and they agreed that he won’t sit in board exams and he only be allowed to attend classes”.

He said Hritesh’s parents had plans to move abroad, therefore they then agreed and signed the letter. “The school had enough claims to prove why the child was not registered on the portal, besides, this being the school’s first complaint, they were issued warning. If this mistake is repeated by the school again in future, it will be penalised or even its NOC can be cancelled,” he added.