Schoolgirls at a private school in the Dhanbad district of India were forced to head home without their shirts as the headteacher confiscated uniforms affected by ‘Pen Day’
Schoolgirls say they do not want to return to school after pupils were forced to remove their tops on “Pen Day” by their headteacher.
A total of 80 students were believed to have been sent home without their shirt on the day, because they had scribbled messages to one another on their clothing. An official confirmed on Saturday that the government has initiated an investigation following allegations against the principal of a private school in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand.
Parents were left outraged by the female headteacher’s actions and say they heard school uniforms were confiscated by the school authorities. Students who had their shirts removed were sent home with just their blazers.
Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Madhvi Mishra revealed that the incident occurred on Friday at a prominent Mount Caramel School in Digwadih, falling under the jurisdiction of the Jorapokhar police station. The students, who were in the 10th grade, were participating in a pen day activity where they wrote notes on each other’s shirts after completing their exams.
Parents have since raised their concerns to the DC and, despite the students’ desire for an apology, the headteacher remains in opposition to the celebration. Pupils were ordered to remove their shirts on Pen Day. Several guardians lodged complaints against the principal, and some of the affected girls were interviewed.
The administration has since formed a committee to investigate the incident, comprised of the sub-divisional police officer, district social welfare officer, district education officer, and sub-divisional magistrate. DC Mishra emphasised appropriate action be taken by the findings from the panel.
On Saturday, when parents lodged complaints against the principal, Jharia MLA Ragini Singh accompanied them to the DC’s office. Singh described the situation as shameful and unfortunate. Many students remain hesitant about returning to school, with parents and guardians confirming the experience had left their daughters feeling worried.
One parent said: “They were merely celebrating Pen Day, and the parents ought to have been notified beforehand if the school had any objections. But once their clothes were taken off, they were sent home.
“Are our girls disrespectful? We are aware of how embarrassing it was for the girls to get home in that state. What if the girls had made a mistake? They are already feeling the strain of their upcoming board exams.”
The District Commissioner has stated that she has established a five-member committee to thoroughly investigate the issue at hand.
Sources have revealed that the committee, comprised of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), the District Education Officer (DEO), the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO), the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), and the in-charge of the Jharia police station, is actively looking into the matter.
As of now, there is no response from the school principal or any other authorised member of the school committee.