DPS Ghaziabad Row: Parents Protest At DM Office Over Extended School Hours

Ghaziabad: The parents of Delhi Public School (DPSG) located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh are furious. The controversy has deepened over the sudden increase in the school time at DPS located on Meerut Road. After protesting outside the school on Saturday, hundreds of parents reached the Ghaziabad District Magistrate's office on Monday and submitted a joint letter seeking intervention.

What happen outside Ghaziabad District Magistrate's office?

A large number of parents protested at the Ghaziabad District Magistrate's office under the banner of Indian Parents’ Association (IPA). 

The parents raised loud slogans and staged a sit-in at the gate. They demanded immediate action from the administration in this matter.

During the protest, slogans like 'DPSG Hai-Hai' and 'DM Saheb Bahar Aao' were raised loudly. The angry parents did a sit-in protest at the gate of the office and started demanding action against the school management.

What are the allegations against school management?

National vice president of the Indian Parents’ Association (IPA), Vinay Kakkar, alleged that the school management had blatantly ignored all educational regulations. He said that according to Central Board of Secondary Education guidelines, consultation with parents is mandatory before any major decision, but this was not done here.

Vinay Kakkar also said that the National Education Policy 2020 aims to reduce the burden on children, but instead, it is putting additional pressure on them by increasing their time. Furthermore, the timetable rules established under the National Curriculum Framework 2023 have also been bypassed.

What are the issues related to lack of transportation?

Parents allege that the school's transportation system is inadequate. Due to a shortage of buses, the timings have been increased to increase the number of trips, keeping children in school for unnecessarily long periods. When some parents protested, they were even told to enroll their children elsewhere if they had any problems.

Vivek Tyagi, media coordinator for the IPA, said that the sudden increase in timings will increase fatigue, stress, and mental pressure among children, impacting their health and development. Parents questioned why the school charges hefty fees and doesn't provide the necessary facilities.

What is there in the joint letter submitted to DM?

Parents submitted a joint letter to the District Magistrate, demanding that the extended time be immediately withdrawn until a consensus is reached with the parents. They also demanded that all education-related regulations be strictly enforced and school management be held accountable.