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Parents of students at City International School in Oshiwara gathered outside the campus on Friday, April 10, protesting the decision to issue school leaving certificates (LCs) online or via post. According to parents, the school emailed them on Thursday night stating that LCs would be released digitally or sent by courier. The move has raised concerns, particularly among families who have relocated in recent months and updated addresses are not with the school.

Parents’ stand

“Schools need parental consent to issue leaving certificates. Once issued, the school can distance itself from responsibility. We haven’t been allowed to meet authorities or enter the premises,” said Fouzia Mitha, who is among several parents who have relocated in the past few months. “I moved my residence within Jogeshwari, and the school does not have my new address. Moreover, if the mark sheets and leaving certificates have errors, then we won’t be able to hold the authorities accountable since the school is about to shut down,” she added.

Screenshot of the email sent by City International School. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Faizan Khan, another Jogeshwari resident whose children were admitted to the school via RTE, is one of the several parents who have relocated. “Our area is under redevelopment, which is why we have moved to a different address. Online LCs will not cut it either, since schools may ask us for the original documents with the school stamp,” he said.

Official Speak

School officials stated that corrections were underway. “We met the parents and assured them that human errors in the LCs will be rectified on priority. Courier dispatch has been put on hold for now,” said Gaurav Bhagwat, a school administrator. Parents, who had earlier met School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, also met education inspectors and the deputy director of education on Friday. “We will be issuing another letter to the school to ensure all due processes are followed,” an official from the deputy director’s office said.