In a severe disciplinary action, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has permanently withdrawn the affiliation of Jaipur's Neerja Modi School. This drastic step follows the tragic death of a 9-year-old student and an inquiry that revealed shocking lapses in student safety and anti-bullying protocols.
A Tragedy That Exposed Systemic Failure
The incident that triggered this action occurred on November 1, 2024. A Class 4 student allegedly died by suicide, jumping from the fourth floor of the school building. A CBSE-constituted inquiry panel later uncovered a harrowing sequence of neglect. The report stated that the girl had been facing relentless bullying for over 1.5 years. Her parents had first raised complaints with teachers as early as July 2024.
The panel's findings were damning. It noted that despite the parents reporting the bullying to teachers and coordinators more than three times, the school's anti-bullying committee never intervened or contacted the family. In a particularly distressing instance during a Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) in September 2024, the girl's father witnessed a boy bullying her. When he complained, the class teacher allegedly advised that the child "should adjust."
Final Hours Marked by Pleas for Help
The events on the day of the tragedy painted a picture of acute distress and institutional indifference. The inquiry report detailed that the girl attended school in a cheerful mood that morning. However, after 11 am, she became visibly disturbed following interactions with classmates involving a digital slate. Some boys had written or displayed something on it that deeply embarrassed and troubled her.
CCTV footage examined by the committee showed the girl repeatedly asking the boys to stop and erase the content. Most critically, the footage captured her approaching her class teacher five times in the final 45 minutes before her death, visibly seeking help. The panel observed that the teacher failed to act on the child's evident distress.
CBSE's Uncompromising Verdict and Penalty
Terming the school's actions a "gross violation" of mandatory Affiliation Bye-Laws, a senior CBSE official stated that the negligent actions were unacceptable. "A school is expected to be a safe haven for students... These violations strike at the very foundation of the affiliation," the official said. The board concluded there was a "complete failure of counselling mechanism and redressal system" in the school.
The penalties imposed are stringent and immediate:
- The school's affiliation up to the Senior Secondary level stands withdrawn with immediate effect.
- Students in Classes 10 and 12 can appear for their 2025-26 board exams from the same school.
- However, students currently in Classes 9 and 11 must be shifted to a nearby school for the 2026-27 session, arranged by the Regional Officer.
- The school is barred from taking any new admissions or promoting lower-class students into Classes 9 and 11.
The path to potential restoration is long. The school may seek affiliation reinstatement up to the secondary level only after one academic year (2027-28), provided it complies with all safety norms. Restoration to the senior secondary level would require at least two more academic years after that.
This case serves as a stark reminder to educational institutions nationwide about their paramount responsibility towards student welfare and the severe consequences of failing to provide a safe and supportive environment.
