New Delhi, February 16 Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday of politicizing disputes related to schools ahead of board examinations, and stated that the BJP government is committed to ensuring that students are not subjected to stress during this crucial period.
Addressing students and parents, Sood said that the city government considers every child in Delhi its responsibility, regardless of whether they study in government or private schools.
He said that the focus of the administration is to safeguard students' academic interests and ensure that examinations are conducted without disruptions.
The minister referred to a recent issue involving admission cards of students at the Apeejay School, saying that the matter was resolved through official intervention, and that the government remains engaged with all stakeholders to prevent similar situations.
He asserted that both Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the education department are available to support students and parents.
However, there was no immediate response from the school.
Sood alleged that the dispute between certain schools and parents has been pending for years, and accused the AAP of using the issue for political messaging, instead of working towards a permanent solution.
He claimed that recent actions were aimed at creating "public perception" rather than resolving the core problem.
Reiterating the government's position on fee-related matters, Sood said that coercive methods for fee recovery would not be tolerated, and cited provisions of the Fee Act to underline the department's stand.
He said that officials are in regular touch with school managements and parents to ensure that students' education is not affected.
Meanwhile, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Delhi, alleging that students' admission cards are being withheld in a private school, and that party workers raising the issue were detained.
In a post on X, the former Delhi chief minister accused the government of protecting private schools and suppressing voices speaking up for students' rights.
As board examinations approach, Sood appealed to students to remain focused on their studies, and said that the government would continue to provide support to them to ensure a stress-free environment during the exams.
Earlier in the day, AAP leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, staged a protest outside the Apeejay School, alleging an arbitrary fee hike and the withholding of students' admission cards for board examinations.
