HIV+ children denied admission in Pampady

Kottayam, Jun 12: The row over the admission of HIV positive children of 'Asha Kiran' to school rocked nearby Pampady town again following objections raised by parents of the students of Ponkunnam Varkey Memorial Higher Secondary School against the admission of one of the two children to the fifth standard.

The Parents Association of the school strongly opposed to the child's entry into the school premises and even threatened to withdraw their wards from the school.

It also criticised the 'Asha Kiran' authorities for seeking admission of the child to a government school raher than opting a private school.

The Association has decided to take up its protest to the Education and Health Ministers. The Association which met yesterday warned of intense agitation if the child was admitted to the school without its permission.

Meanwhile, the school Headmistress informed 'Asha Kiran' authorities that she had no objections in admitting the child to her institution.

Controversy over the children's education started last year when the PTA of the Mar Dionysious L P School, Pampady, objected to the entry of the children into that school. The dispute was settled then following the intervention of the Government, AIDS Control Board and some voluntary organisations.

'Asha Kiran' was founded by P C Yohannan Ramban of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church at Pampady to rehabilitate HIV affected children and mothers.

Yohannan Ramban today said he was deeply hurt by the controversy erupting again over the children's school admission.

He said he was prepared to take the children to special schools if the Government and the AIDS Control Board permitted.

UNI