SHILLONG: The government has decided to review the recent directive by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner PS Dkhar to schools in the districts that prompted the state child rights commission to seek revocation and parents and pressure groups to denounce it.
Home Minister James Sangma told reporters on Monday that though the issue is under the purview of the Health and the Education departments, “but something like this (order) should not affect students”.
The deputy commissioner had asked the district school education officer to withhold the annual examination report cards of those students who refused to take Measles-Rubella Vaccination (MRV).
The directive was given in view of the low coverage under the vaccination campaign in the district.
“Though we are concerned about MR as it is a life threatening disease but you cannot withhold results because some students did not take the vaccine,” said Sangma.
Earlier, the Health Department had refused to interfere saying it was at the district administration’s discretion how it raised immunisation rate.
Meanwhile, Dkhar told members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Monday that the notification would be revoked.
When contacted, KSU education cell member Readyon Stone Nongrum said the union was told that the target for Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign in East Khasi Hills District is very low.
“After parents opposed the move to withhold report cards, the DC said he will come up with an official notification to revoke the previous one,” said Nongrum, adding that the directive was to make parents alert about administering the vaccine to their wards.
The deputy commissioner told KSU that since children up to 15 years are still in school, the administration of vaccination is easier.
KHNAM opposes order
The youth wing of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has opposed the directive of the district administration to schools to withhold report cards of students who refused to get Measles-Rubella vaccination and called the move “unjustified”.
President of the youth wing Thomas Passah demanded that the state government, through the Health and Family Welfare Department, send an office order to schools to neither withhold report cards nor harass parents with regard to vaccination.
SSA teachers condemn order
The Meghalaya SSA School Association, East Khasi Hills District Unit, has also condemned the order.
The association pointed out that it is a violation of child rights as it deprives children of the Right to Equality and Right against Discrimination stated in Article 14 and Article 15 of the Constitution.
The order also violates the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and “will prove to be an emotional setback for students who are appearing for their annual examination”, the association said in a statement and pointed out that the order may encourage many students to drop out of school.
The association demanded immediate withdrawal of the order and asked the district administration to organise awareness programmes in consultation with parents of such students top improve the MR vaccination coverage.
