Yesterday, a 14-year-old boy took his own life, apparently because of a disciplinary measure taken against him for skipping school. Mumbai’s auxiliary bishop calls for greater care in the family and for a total education that transcends marks.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Since the start of 2010, more than 20 students have killed themselves in Mumbai, India’s financial capital. The latest suicide occurred yesterday in St Joseph’s High School in Juju, when a student hanged himself at home. The gesture is apparently connected to a day of suspension the student received for skipping school on Friday.

According to the police, Rajesh Yadav, 14, killed himself at his Mora Gaon residence in Juhu at around 11 am. “On Friday, Rajesh left for school, but was found roaming near the Juhu bus depot by his class teacher Vijaya Hegde. He was in his school uniform and carrying a school bag,” said Deepak Katkade, senior police inspector of the Juhu police station. Yadav did not answer the teacher’s query on why he was not at school.

“When he came to the school on Saturday, the class teacher brought him to the principal,” said Katkade. On Monday, Yadav was sent back home after his father had a meeting with the principal, said the principal Beena CJ. “He was told that he would be attending class from the next day. He was not suspended from the school,” Beena added.

Angry neighbours rushed to the school and protested against the principal after the suicide became known. The situation came under control after the police intervened and produced Rajesh’s father Ramnarayan to explain the situation.

“If my son had bunked school then the authorities have full right to punish him. The school has not done anything wrong,” said Ramnarayan

The growing number of suicides among students is raising concerns among Catholic Church leaders in Mumbai. Mgr Percival Fernandez, auxiliary bishop of Bombay and vice-president of the Archdiocesan Board of Education, said, “It is very, very sad to see a spate of suicides among youth these days.” For him, several factors could have led to such a tragic situation.

Lack of moral fibre and love from parents and teachers could be one explanation according to the prelate. “With the world practically in their hands (TV, internet, mobiles, etc.), there is an urgent need to build up the moral fibre of our children,” the prelate said. “This is best done at home by the parents and at school by their educators.”

As for teaching methods, the bishop added, “Schools pay more attention to results than to the ‘total education’ of the child. Too often, parents are caught up in their work to care of their children. There is a lack of concern and love, which today are more important. For this reason, Catholic schools have started classes to build correct values in our children. This is an excellent step in the correct direction.”  (NC)

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