Had to take seven months off for treatment; parents allege that the school wants a donation
Riddhi Sondarva (9), diagnosed with thalassemia, has missed almost two years of school. That's because, her parents have alleged that the school, St Ignatius School in Mahalaxmi, where she was studying till Std III, has refused to readmit her after she had to stay away for seven months in 2014 owing to her treatment. Riddhi's father, Bharat Sondarva, has said the school is denying his daughter admission because he is unable to pay a donation. The school has refuted the allegation.
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Riddhi Sondarva at her home on Arthur Road. Pic/Atul Kamble
Had to be hospitalised
Riddhi's father, Bharat Sondarva, said, "In August 2014, Riddhi's condition had deteriorated. She was studying in Std III. We decided to focus on her treatment, which took longer than expected. She had to stay away from school. When we returned in March 2015, the school told us to wait for the next year. We agreed. Riddhi was to repeat Std III as she had missed most of it."
"When we approached the school in June 2015, we were told we were late and there was no seat for her. Another admission season is over, but the school hasn't relented." Asked why he was not looking for admission in any other school, Sondarva, who works as a pujari, said, "This school is just 5 minutes from our home and allows us to rush there if there is a medical emergency. Also, it is not right on the part of the school to not readmit its own student who was away for medical reasons. We are ready to pay the fees, but they want a donation."
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