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- By Parinda News Bureau, May 22, 2006, 11:15 IST
Following a Delhi High Court ruling stopping private schools from interviewing children before admission in nursery classes, an NGO in Mumbai has sought a similar ban in Maharashtra.
The Forum for Fairness in Education, a city-based NGO, has decided to file a petition before the Bombay High Court seeking a similar ban. "Though a similar petition had been filed in the Bombay High Court in 2005, it was disposed of. In view of the Delhi High Court ruling, we will file a fresh suit. We hope the court will grant a similar judgment," said the forum's president Jayant Jain.
"The interviews not only subject tiny tots to severe mental trauma, it can also cause embarrassment and inconvenience to parents," Jain said.
Parents in Mumbai, however, doubt if their travails would end. "Following experiences of relatives and acquaintances about school interviews, I am not taking any chances," said a working mother adding, "While we speak in Hindi at home, my son is expected to answer questions in English. I am preparing my son as best as I can, knowing well that I am putting too much pressure on such a young child. But we have to get him admitted to a good school."
"We had to employ a private tutor for my son prior to his nursery school interview. It is not only taxing for the child, but parents too have to prepare for the interview," said another working parent.
However, many parents say the deeper problem was the "donation" self-financed schools ask for at the time of admission. Jain said that donations taken by the schools have rendered admission interviews pointless.
Some schools have welcomed the Delhi High Court order. "We do not encourage interviews in our school. How can you judge a three-year-old in a span of 15 minutes? The child's age should be the only criterion for admission," said Hema Nair, principal of the DAV Public School in the neighbouring district of Thane.
"We are for doing away with interviews. The Delhi High Court judgment is welcome but the court should provide guidelines on alternatives to interviews," said Children's Academy principal Rohan Bhatt.
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