Department Of Public Instruction against red-inking SC/ST school students

Thiruvananthapuram: Director of public instructions (DPI) K. V. Mohankumar has asked schools not to put red marks against Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe students in school attendance register, Some schools follow the practice to identify pupils who are getting a stipend. The decision was following a complaint by members of the Gandhi Darshan unit of Vinoba High School, Kayamkulam, through U. Pratibha Hari MLA to education minister C. Raveendranath, who forwarded it to the DPI.

The Rule 6 of Chapter VII of Kerala Education Rules does not specify the use of red ink attendance register, the DPI said in the circular. The complaint had pointed out that many schools use it for easily identify SC/ST students for distribution of lump-sum grant, the monthly stipend and other financial aid, though done with a good intention but separating them from others. Hence, schools have been given strict instructions to avoid such markings. The district education officers have also been asked to ensure that the schools do not use red markings in attendance register for identifying SC/ST students.