Coimbatore: The education department has ordered that caste and religious identities should not be mentioned in the profile booklet of private schools.
Complaints surfaced that 9 private schools in Coimbatore district asked students to mention their caste and religious identities in their homework notebook and profile form. District Education Officer (in-charge) Belraj has sent a circular.
In this, he ordered the 9 private schools not to mention caste and religious symbols from this academic year as it would hinder the development of the students. He also mentioned the names of those schools.
He advised that not only these 9 schools but all schools should follow this circular. Earlier, the Education Management Information Center was criticized for including details of caste and religion in the details of students registered in schools online.
Minister Anbil Mahesh Poiyamozhi said that only a thorn can remove a thorn. It is noteworthy that it was said that education scholarships, reservation etc. can be provided only if the caste is known.
But in some schools there have been allegations of harassment of students based on their caste and religious identities mentioned in the profiles. Similarly, it is said that upper caste students have a chance to come together and practice untouchability towards lower castes.