The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, urging him to immediately reopen the Seventh Day Adventist School in Maninagar, Ahmedabad, where classes have been suspended for nearly two weeks. The MCC claims that the suspension, following a violent incident, violates the constitutional right to education of thousands of children.
In its letter, MCC convenor Mujahid Nafees stated: “For the first time, the District Education Officer has halted academic activity in a school, affecting the education of over 10,000 students. Similar scuffles have occurred in other schools across Gujarat, but none were punished by being denied education. The Constitution recognizes education as a fundamental right, yet for the past 12 days these children have been deprived of it.”
The closure was triggered after a fight broke out between two students, which, according to the MCC, was later given a “religious colour” by anti-social elements who stormed the campus and vandalized property. The Committee has demanded that the state government ensure classes resume immediately to protect children from further disruption.
The incident has sparked debate beyond the immediate school community. Child rights activists argue that collective punishment of students is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent. Legal experts point out that the Right to Education Act, 2009 mandates uninterrupted schooling and places a duty on the state to safeguard learning spaces from external threats rather than shutting them down.
On the other hand, some parents’ groups have voiced concerns about safety and discipline inside schools. They argue that unless proper security measures and conflict-resolution mechanisms are put in place, resuming classes hastily could expose students and staff to risk.
The Gujarat Education Department has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter, though sources indicate that consultations are underway between the DEO, the school administration, and state authorities.
For now, the stalemate has left thousands of children in limbo, while civil society, parents, and the government debate whether the balance should tilt towards security concerns or the inviolability of the right to education.
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