Every NRK student 'must' stay with one parent

KOCHI: When NRK parents Sijeesh and Geetha decided that their twin children should have their basic education in a CBSE school in Kerala, they were in for a surprise. One of the conditions for admission to kindergarten put across by two schools they approached in the city was that one parent would have to be with the children. As both of them worked in the Gulf, the children were staying with Geetha's parents.
To ensure discipline, better upbringing and overall development of children, a growing number of schools in the state are insisting on this. While some put it as a pre-condition for admission, others enforce it in the form of "advise".
"If both parents are working abroad and they want their child admitted in our school here, now we insist that one of them is with them during their schooling. This decision was taken after we found that children who grew up with grandparents or guardians, with their parents working abroad, were not happy in class and couldn't concentrate on their studies. Parent's presence and support helps in the overall growth of the child," said Fr Benny Maramparampil, principal of Naipunnya Public School in Kochi.
Child psychiatrists proffer supporting evidence. "We get a lot of cases where children who stay with their grandparents behavioural and academic problems. Recently, a grandmother was crying in our clinic that she was unable to look after her 14-year-old grandchild whose parents work in UK as she has behavioural and academic problems and the school authorities are refusing to keep her in school," said psychiatrist Dr Philip John.
School authorities claim they have come across several instances wherein a student who stays with grandparents is pampered and spoiled to such an extent that they tend to misuse the freedom they get. "The problem is more with the students at the high school and higher secondary level," said Asha Byju , principal of MES International School, Pattambi. They have made it compulsory for one NRK parent to be with their child for at least six months before the Board exams if the student is not good in studies.
Not surprisingly, some schools are advising NRK parents to put children in boarding school where their education would be monitored. "Whenever we get applications from children whose parents work abroad, we advise parents that they should either be with them or consider admitting the child in the school's boarding as their studies will be monitored and they will be more disciplined. Parents agree and most children stay in boarding. They do go to meet their grandparents or other local guardian during weekends," said Indu Panicker, principal of Global Public School in Kochi.
(Names of parents changed on request)