In a concerning incident, the City of Los Angeles municipal school in Matunga is under scrutiny for reportedly denying admission to seven out-of-school students from Dharavi. The issue came to light when social activist Srinivas Kunchan received a complaint from the parents of these students, who belong to an economically disadvantaged group.
The parents, who have been grappling with financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, sought admission for their children to ensure their continued education. However, the school’s primary and secondary section principals, Geeta Tiwari and Humera Khan, cited poor academic performance as the reason for denying admission.
Upon learning about the situation, the parents approached Srinivas Kunchan and informed the Maharashtra State Student Parents Federation. A complaint was subsequently filed with Education Officer Raju Tadvi on February 2. While Sushiben Shah, the Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has been notified, no action has been taken against the institution as of now.
The school authorities contend that they have not refused admission to the children. They emphasize that every student has the right to education in a municipal school, but the parents rushed for admission in February. With exams scheduled for March, the school suggested that starting a fresh academic year in June 2024 would be more suitable for the students.
However, the Maharashtra State Student Parents Federation President Nitin Dalvi (Mumbai) argued that the Right to Education Act has been violated by denying admission to children in municipal schools, even though education is free. He asserted that conducting written tests as part of the admission process is against the law, and those responsible should face criminal charges according to the Right to Education Act.
