25 September,2011 10:32 AM IST | | Kranti Vibhute
Charni Road-based KPB Hinduja College asked defaulting students to bring their parents, along with identity proof, to a parent-teacher meet, to curb instances of students hiring actors to pass off as mommy and dad
College students may no longer be able to pass off older friends, lenient relatives, and rented actors as parents when brought to book over low attendance in front of teachers, if the move made by authorities at KPB Hinduja College at Charni Road is any precedent.
On September 21, the college authorities surprised students of second year, junior college, by displaying a notice that asked 51 defaulters to show up with parents who were carrying identity proof, at the parents meet yesterday, failing which they would not be allowed to fill the HSC examination form.
Naturally, the students were all at sea. Suraj Shah (name changed), one of the defaulters, said, "I haven't heard of this happening anywhere else."
Bhavin Mehta (name changed), another defaulter, added, "Even if parents bring identity proof for verification, the college will ask them further questions about the child's personal life to ensure that they are in fact, the real parents."
Parents, however, are positive about the move. Rupal Jha, (name changed) a parent of an SYJC student, said, "It's a good initiative. We don't mind bringing identity proof along."
Smita Parekh, (name changed) another parent, agreed, adding, however, that the identity proof wasn't checked all that thoroughly at the meeting. "We just signed on a muster and left the college. Students who are defaulters usually bring along fake parents."
Dr T.A. Shiware, principal of KPB Hinduja College explained the reason behind the decision. "Students are smart, and believe they can hoodwink college authorities. They hire 'parents' when asked to attend meetings after their names appear on the defaulters' list. This year, we decided to demand ID proof from the parents."
