Riyaz ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
The students of Delhi Public School (DPS) Athwajan are up in arms against the school administration for banning Abhaya – the Muslim female dress – inside the school premises.
Reports reaching here said that as the school opened for normal work early on Friday, the students started protesting against school administration by boycotting classes. They demanded apology from the administration.
The issue cropped up when a female teacher was conveyed by DPS administration against wearing Abhaya in the school premises.
The DPS is a chain of schools run across mainland India besides J&K by DP Dhar Trust.
The teacher taught Botany and had joined DPS three months ago. She has been following the dress code ever since.
This is the second incident of its kind. Earlier, students had held strong protests after they were allegedly barred from offering prayers. Thereafter, the DPS closes at noon on Fridays.
A student who attended school today while divulging details said, “the Madam taught Botany from class 8th to 12th. She wore Abhaya since she joined the school.”
The student said that since early this morning students from all these classes gathered in school sports ground and the Indoor Stadium. “The students protested the school behaviour and demanded an apology from the administration,” the student said, “however, Principal Madam told us that she did nothing on her own.”
Students were supposed to attend five classes today but they stayed away from the classes. “Even ninth and tenth class students boycotted their exams.”
The principal madam, the student informed, “told us that she will take up the matter with DPS society.”
Insiders claim that the school administration was forced to cancel a cultural program and a parent-Teacher meeting on Saturday.
The teacher who was barred from wearing Abhaya has reportedly left the job in protest.
A former teacher at DPS told Kashmir Life such are the rules in the school that teachers cannot wear Abhaya inside the school premises during working hours. “There are scores of female teachers working in the school and some of them wear Abhaya too,” the teacher said, “but they have to take out Abhaya while they are inside the campus and can wear it again once they leave for home.”
Various attempts to reach DPS authorities proved futile. The cell numbers of DPS Athwajan officials on its website didn’t help. “It is wrong number,” replied one such official whose number is on DPS website. Others didn’t respond.
