The parents of a deceased seventh-grade student have raised serious concerns over an English medium school's demand for unpaid fees months after their son's sudden death. The couple from East Burdwan district, still searching for answers regarding their 13-year-old child's passing, recently approached the district and sub-divisional administration regarding the school’s insensitivity.
In December, the boy was found hanging just three feet off the ground, kneeling on the floor. His parents remain unsure about the cause of death, though authorities suspect addiction to an online game might have led to the incident.
Despite multiple visits to the school seeking clarity, the family claims they received little cooperation. However, what shocked them further was a recent demand from the school, asking them to clear "arrears" of approximately ₹13,000 for the months of January to March — after their son’s passing.
On Wednesday, the grieving parents lodged an official complaint with the district administration. The boy’s father expressed his frustration, saying, “This raises serious questions about the ethics of the school. We urge the administration to ensure that schools maintain a humane environment so that no other parents have to endure such pain. We know the kind of bond that usually exists between students and schools, but after my son’s death, this institution neither expressed condolences nor inquired about the incident. And now, they are demanding fees?”
Responding to the backlash, the school’s principal, Father Maria Joseph, attributed the fee demand to a “procedural error.” He explained that the institution's software had misclassified the student as having pending dues, leading an employee to call the family mistakenly. He, however, denied allegations of non-cooperation following the boy’s death.
East Burdwan additional district magistrate Prateek Singh, called the incident "unfortunate" and stated that he would investigate the school's actions.
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