A student’s bag contained Rs 11,000 in cash, which shocked the principal of a city school and led to the assumption that the student was a drug addict. The student’s parents later denied this claim. During a random check at one of the well-known city schools, a teacher in another incident discovered a contraceptive in the bag of an upper primary (class 5-8) student.
Schools in Ahmedabad have previously reported finding prohibited items like mobile phones, cosmetics, perfumes, e-cigarettes, and significant amounts of cash in students’ bags.
After a condom pack was discovered in a school-going student’s bag in Bengaluru, schools in Ahmedabad increased their random bag checks. Schools conduct searches to teach students that it is against their best interests to carry items that are not allowed. “The main purpose of checking bags is to ensure that they are not overweight and children are disciplined enough to bring textbooks and notebooks on time,” said Sreenarayanan PC, principal of Podar International School. There have been a few isolated cases where e-cigarettes have been found. We seize it and immediately alert the parents. We work with them and subject matter experts to break such students of bad habits.
Manan Choksi, executive director of Udgam School for Children, revealed that in addition to mobile phones, other prohibited items, and cash seizures up to Rs 12,000, the school has occasionally discovered a student’s scrapbook that contains offensive writings and rumours about other students. “Even though it wasn’t on the list of forbidden items, it showed the students’ darker psychology. We counselled the student right away and called the student’s parents to inform them. We also ask parents for an explanation if a significant amount of cash is discovered in the bags because we don’t want the children to develop bad habits.
The surprise check is routine, according to Nivedita Ganguly, principal of DAV International School. She remarked, “We primarily find mobile phones and cosmetics, perfumes, and deodorants in our school. On the school’s campus, all of these items are prohibited.
The New Tulip International School’s principal, Anjali Kwatra, said she regularly checks students’ bags at the main entrance to maintain order. “The goal is to make them more aware of rules and to steer clear of activities that are inappropriate for their age. Even though they are used to remain fragrant, we seize perfumes, she added.
According to the majority of the schools spoke, it is the responsibility of the teachers to make sure that students don’t develop bad habits or engage in adult-like behaviour and attitude at a young age because they are typically prone to carrying high-end mobile devices. In each of these situations, parents are notified right away, and corrective actions like counselling are taken.