Kerala school's uniform plan for bright, dull students sparks row

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New Delhi: A private English medium school in Kerala raised controversies after introducing variations in uniforms for students based on their academic performances. The incident took place in Al Farooque English Medium School at Pandikkad.

Offended students along with their parents jointly approached the child welfare authorities' to complain against such a discrimination. Following the complaint, the school on Thursday withdrew the system, reported the Times of India.

While other students wore regular uniform to school, 32 students were asked to wear a gray uniform. Reportedly, this was due to that fact that they were good in studies, said the Childline authorities.

The Childline authorities had conducted a survey among the students for their feedbacks on the new system following the complaint received in June. The survey revealed that the students feel discriminated owing to the introduction of the new system.

"As most of the students were unhappy, we had demanded the school authorities to withdraw the system immediately," said  Anwar Karakkadan, district coordinator of Childline.

The school, however, did not withdraw the system even after a month. This led the child welfare organisation to knock the doors of Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) and district Child Welfare Committee seeking intervention in the issue.

School principal Abdul Kareem defended himself saying that the new system was launched as part of forming students' group in class rooms to monitor different co-curricular activities. However, the system was immediately withdrawn due to the complaints received from various ends.

Meanwhile, the KeSCPCR has registered a suo motu case against the school authorities.