‘Total failure of safety and counselling systems’: CBSE withdraws affiliation of Jaipur school after class 4 girl’s death

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday withdrawn the affiliation of Neerja Modi School, Jaipur, citing gross and repeated violations of mandatory child safety norms following the death of a nine-year-old Class 4 student who allegedly died by suicide on the school campus in November.

The decision follows a detailed inquiry ordered by the board, which concluded that the school failed at multiple levels to protect the child and respond to sustained complaints of bullying.

In its order dated December 30, the CBSE said the lapses identified in the inquiry amounted to the “severest” category of violations under the affiliation bye-laws and that students could not be permitted to continue in an environment deemed unsafe. The affiliation granted to the school up to the Senior Secondary level has been withdrawn with immediate effect.

The CBSE inquiry panel found that the girl had been subjected to relentless bullying over an extended period. Her parents had raised concerns with teachers and school authorities multiple times, beginning as early as July 2024, but no effective intervention followed. The panel recorded that despite repeated complaints over nearly one-and-a-half years, the school’s anti-bullying committee never contacted the parents or took corrective action.

According to the findings, even when the child directly approached her class teacher several times on the day of the incident, her distress went unaddressed.

CCTV footage reviewed by the panel showed the student approaching the class teacher five times in the final 45 minutes before the incident, seeking help after being repeatedly harassed by classmates. The teacher failed to initiate any immediate support or escalation, the report noted.

The inquiry report detailed that the child had arrived at school in a cheerful mood but became visibly distressed after interactions with classmates involving a digital slate. Some boys allegedly wrote or displayed content that embarrassed her.

CCTV footage showed the girl repeatedly requesting them to stop and erase the content. Despite clear signs of emotional distress, no timely intervention followed from school staff.

The CBSE committee, which visited the school soon after the incident and interacted with the parents, described the sequence of events as indicative of systemic neglect and a complete breakdown of the school’s counselling and grievance redressal mechanisms.

Based on the inquiry report, available records and the school’s response, the CBSE concluded that Neerja Modi School had grossly violated mandatory provisions of the affiliation bye-laws. The board observed that there was a complete failure of counselling systems and redressal structures meant to address student distress and safety concerns.

The CBSE noted that such violations strike at the core of what affiliation stands for, stressing that schools are expected to function as safe spaces where student well-being is paramount. The board said negligent actions of this nature are unacceptable and warrant strict and immediate action.

As part of the order, the CBSE has allowed students currently in Classes 10 and 12 to continue and appear for their board examinations from the same school for the 2025–26 session. However, students presently in Classes 9 and 11 will be shifted to nearby schools by the CBSE Regional Office from the 2026–27 academic session.

The school has also been barred from admitting new students and from promoting students of lower classes to Classes 9 and 11 through natural progression. These restrictions will remain in force following the withdrawal of affiliation.

The CBSE, in the notice mentioned, that have laid down a graded path for any potential restoration of affiliation. The school may apply for restoration of affiliation up to the secondary level only after the lapse of one full academic year, beginning 2027–28, and only after demonstrating full compliance with mandatory safety norms and child protection protocols.

Restoration of affiliation up to the senior secondary level, if sought, can be considered only after at least two additional academic years following restoration at the secondary level, subject to CBSE approval.

The board noted that a show cause notice to the school was issued last month, highlighting that repeated communications from the parents to teachers and school management were ignored. The notice pointed to the absence of an effective grievance redressal mechanism and a lack of compliance with prescribed anti-bullying and child safety provisions.