Parents protest re-admission of HIV positive students in Kerala

Re-admission of five HIV-positive students to a school in Keralas Pampady town has sparked protest among parents of other students who threatened to pull out their wards and admit them elsewhere.

Pampady(Kerala), June 26 : Re-admission of five HIV-positive students to a school in Kerala's Pampady town has sparked protest among parents of other students who threatened to pull out their wards and admit them elsewhere.

A school in Pampady re-admitted five HIV positive children for the second time after the State Government threatened to cancel its recognition.

Now, that the school has abided by the Government's decision, they are facing the wrath of parents of non-HIV students.

"If HIV positive children still come, I will get my children admitted in some other school. It's my decision where my children are to study. If the atmosphere here is not good I will take them to some other school," said Babu Verghese, one of the protesting parents.

The school management held a meeting with parents and has asked for a week's time to work out a solution.

"The meeting was to find a permanent solution to the issue. The management says it will take a proper decision in a week's time," said M.R. Raja, President of the Parent-Teacher Association. eanwhile, the school management said they would take up the school's case with the government in a day or two.

"The management has a lot of limitations as it has no role in admissions. But I still hope that we can find some solution by acting as a go between" said Bishop Paulos Mar Pacramious Metranjalita.

Five HIV positive children aged between five to eleven were turned away twice from the school, despite the State Government promise that they would be allowed to return.

But after a public outcry the State Government was forced to take action against the school resulting in the re-admission of four girls and a boy.

ANI