6-yr-old Gauri goes back to school after 5 months

After almost five months of missing school, six-year-old Gauri Bhandare has been assured by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) admission to an English-medium school in her neighbourhood. Gauri was allegedly denied admission to class I in MN English High School for protesting over fee hike.

The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights on August 13 had directed the BMC to admit Gauri in a school near her residence to ensure that the girl’s academic year is not ruined.  “We have consulted Adarsh Vidyalaya in Goregaon and she can avail admission to class I in the school on Monday,” said Sujata Khare, administrative officer, education department, P/south ward.

However, despite the assurance from the BMC, Gauri’s parents seem to have lost faith in education institutions. The parents were initially not keen to send Gauri to a different school, in spite of the commission’s directive. But now they have changed their mind. “With almost half a year gone by, we have very little choice left,” Gauri’s mother Sharda Bhandare said.

But, Gauri’s father, a small-time technician, is still not convinced. “Her father is asking us not to get her admitted to any school. He fears that every school will disappoint us in the same way. We have to convince him by Monday so that he lets Gauri to take admission in the school,” said Gauri’s uncle.

The family cannot afford the fees of Adarsh Vidyalaya. So, “they will start the paper work required for the admission process” to avail free education under the provisions of the Right to Education Act.

“Hopefully, Gauri will be able to start attending school at the earliest,” said activist Avisha Kulkarni.  Gauri had joined the Nursery class in GM International School in Goregaon in 2010. However, Gauri was denied admission to in April 2013 because her mother protested against the school management over a fee hike in 2011.