Teachers are no longer at the freedom to punish children, their students, at their whims and fancies. No more pestering the kids to purchase books, uniforms and stationery from a particular shop or beating the kids black and blue; fail to abide by the rules be ready to count the iron bars for three years. A draft bill that curbs unfair practices in schools has been made which would be submitted on November 1 to the Central Advisory Board of Education, CABE.

Several interesting aspects have been mentioned in the draft 'Prohibition Of Unfair Practices in Schools Bill', 2012. No direct or indirect demands or accepting capitation fee is allowed. Demanding donations to admit a child into a class is a complete no-no.

A student cannot be denied of admission or expulsion from the school if he is found to have deadly diseases such as the HIV/AIDS.
Students who are eligible to and who desire to appear in examination are by no means to be withheld from doing so. Corporal punishment is to be completely abolished.

A poorly performing student cannot be expelled from a school or be detained arbitrarily.

The draft comes as there were several acts of corporal punishments in the schools which have been rising in numbers and frequency of late. There was no mention of the penalty amount which was to be imposed but it mentioned that the violators would have to serve 3 years in prison or a fine or both.

Schools cannot sell their brouchures, admission forms, prospectus and that such information should be available online on its website or notice boards. Admission tests should remain free of charge. Mid-session fees are also being scrutinized.

(AW- Anil)