Malda school to hold separate classes for boys and girls

Kolkata: In a unique move, authorities of Girijasundari Co Educational High School in Malda have rationalized the routine allowing the girls and the boys to attend classes three days in a week separately after some boys were caught passing lewd remarks on their classmates.

The assistant head master of the school said some boys recently passed lewd remarks on their classmates.

There is shortage of space as the common room cannot accommodate all the students. Some outsiders enter the school and disturb the girls.

"In view of the problem that has cropped up in school, we have decided to restructure the routine. Girls will attend the classes for three days and the boys during the remaining three days. We believe this is the only workable solution."

The decision has received severe criticism from educationists. Noted scholar Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri said the decision taken by the school authorities is absurd and should be scrapped immediately. He said the school authorities will find it very difficult to complete the syllabus. Moreover, it will not resolve the problem. Instead the school authorities should call a meeting of the parents to address the problem.

Anandadeb Mukherjee, former vice chancellor of Vidyasagar University said: " Instead of resolving the issue it will further complicate the relation between the boys and the girls studying in the school. Steps should be taken by the school authorities to

discuss the matter with the boys and it is the responsibility of the school authorities to ensure that the boys do not pass lewd remarks on their fellow classmates. Instead of addressing the problem, the school authorities are running away from it," he maintained.

The district inspector of schools when contacted said he would look into the matter. The decision has created confusion among a section of teachers who maintained that if this decision is implemented then it will be difficult for them to complete the syllabus.