A day after students of Delhi Public School, Srinagar, protested against the management for banning a teacher from wearing an “abaya” (a robe-like loose over-garment), the management today apologised for hurting sentiments.
In its official statement, the management apologised for hurting sentiments. “The Delhi Public School, Srinagar, management apologises for unintentionally hurting the sentiments of people,” it read.
The incident evoked widespread anger in the region, with the government condemning the incident.
Reports said the teacher was “forced” to choose between the “abaya” (veil) and her job in the school. After the teacher reportedly quit her job following the administration’s diktat, students held a protest against the school administration on Friday.
A student delegation from Delhi Public School today said DPS Society rule book does not allow wearing of Abaya inside the classrooms.
So, it’s the teacher who is to be blamed for flouting school norms, a delegation of students who visited Kashmir Post office today afternoon on behalf of School Administration said.
“The teacher who was working as a substitute for another teacher gone on maternity leave gave the issue a religious colour, which outraged the students,” delegation said. “We regret creating indiscipline in the school; yesterday’s protest gave our school a bad name,” they said. The students who approached this newspaper said, “The principal didn’t speak to the teacher, it was the coordinator who asked the teacher to trim the length of the Abaya as it was very long.”
Delegation said the teacher refused, and after that coordinator told her “I’ll leave it to you to choose between your job and school rules”.
“The angry teacher who teachers a few sections of 9th and 10th standard went into every classroom and started provoking students that she has been fired for wearing Abaya,” students said.
Calling the news reports as mere exaggeration, students said, “We are hurt to see people burning the effigies of our chairman Vijay sir.”
They said some students are just trying to create an issue out of nothing .
“In fact, the parent –teacher meeting which was supposed to be held today was cancelled, as some students had decided to stage a protest in front of the parents,” students said.
The students of higher secondary classes had a meeting with the administration today urging school authorities to revisit the school dress code rules and allow wearing of Abaya in school premises.
“We signed a memorandum today that wearing Abaya should be made permissible inside the campus. The principal though, didn’t promise us that the memorandum will be accepted by the DPS Society, but said, “She will pass it on to the society, and wait for their final call.”
Chairman of DPS School and DP Dhar Memorial Trust, Vijay Dhar said, “I am in Delhi, I cannot comment what’s happening in the school. Please contact the school administrator.”
When Kashmir Post repeatedly called school administration phone numbers but nobody answered the calls.
Principal of DPS School Srinagar Kusam Warikoo also was not available for her comments.
DPS management apologizes for hurting sentiments, ‘Issue blown out of proportion, teacher flouted school norms’
