Pro-jallikattu protest: Panic drives parents to fetch wards from schools

Chennai: After police and students clashed at Marina beach, city schools witnessed unprecedented chaotic scenes as worried parents rushed to take their kids home.

“Out of sheer anxiety, thousands of parents came to our school to take their kids home around noon. The situation was very tense and unprecedented,” said S. Namasivayam, senior principal, Maharishi Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School, Chetpet here.

In the evening, the school vehicles took three to four hours to return to school due to the protests. “We kept some 15 students in the school till 7 pm as their parents could not come to the school. Usually, all the students will leave for home by 4.30 pm,” he said.

“The kids and the parents suffered most by the incidents. Some parents could not make it due to the non-availability of vehicles. They have requested the teachers to keep their children,” he added.

Some parents said they were worried after hearing the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes. They took the kids around lunch time. Many schools had only half the strength around 2 pm on Monday.

“Nearly 25 per cent of parents took their wards early. But, we functioned full time,” said Radhika Unni, principal, SBOA School and Junior College, Anna Nagar. “However, the school cancelled the special classes for class 12 after 4 to enable the staff to reach their home early,” she said. Many parents also have lined up in the government schools to take their kids home early.

“Some parents wanted to take their kids home early due to the protests. After getting permission from the district educational authorities we allowed them,” a government school principal said.