The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has sent a notice to the school in Jaipur where a class 6 student had jumped to her death. The report, after an initial inquiry into the death, found serious failures in safety measures, anti-bullying steps, and how the school handled the student’s repeated pleas for help.
The student died on November 1 after jumping from the school’s fourth floor, an incident that has led to several investigations and raised major concerns about safety in educational spaces.
What does the CBSS report say about the day of suicide?
According to NDTV, the CBSE in its report said that the student had faced bullying for a year and a half and was subjected to abusive language, yet her class teacher repeatedly brushed aside the concerns raised by the child and her parents.
The report described the hours before her death, noting that the girl was seen chatting normally, dancing, and eating chocolates. She appeared cheerful and relaxed before 11 am.
The report then added that according to CCTV footage, things changed after 11 am when she became upset after seeing something on a digital slate. A group of boys had written or drawn something on it. The girl looked confused and taken aback, and her expression suggested she felt embarrassed. She was also seen asking her classmates to stop and delete what they had written.
The student herself wrote something on the slate and again requested that the content be removed. The CBSE reportedly said that this was a moment where the teacher should have stepped in.
The report pointed out that the student went to the class teacher five times, seeking help for around 45 minutes, yet received no support.
Instead of helping her, the teacher dismissed the issue. The report said she raised her voice several times and made remarks that unsettled the entire class. The girl felt troubled and targeted by some classmates, and the lack of intervention from teachers left her without any support. She did not eat her lunch that day, the report added.
The report said her “untimely death” resulted from the teacher’s failure to respond, listen, or show empathy. It added that if the teacher had acted at the beginning, the situation would not have escalated to this level.
CBSE report cites ‘lack of empathy’
The CBSE report listed many incidents showing that the student was bullied by her classmates for about 18 months. According to the report, in September, her father spoke to her class teacher after a boy bullied her. The teacher, however, responded by saying that the girl “needs to adjust with other kids”, as per the report.
A few weeks later in October, the same boy allegedly twisted the girl’s simple “hello” into “I love you” in front of other classmates. The report said the class teacher and coordinator did not step in, but the boy’s mother later made him apologise after the girl’s mother spoke to her.
The report also noted that in May last year, the girl’s mother contacted the school after another child showed her the middle finger. The report said, “The message did not get a response from the teacher.”
Citing the report, NDTV added that the parents’ statements made it clear that the school failed to take preventive or timely action despite repeated complaints of bullying and teasing. It said the class teacher and the school management were fully aware of the harassment and emotional strain the child was facing. It added that all communication from the parents to the teacher and the school authorities were not heard.
(Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or in distress contact the Vandrevala Foundation’s helpline (+91-9999666555) which is available in 11 languages including English and can be accessed via telephone or WhatsApp 24×7. You can also contact Fortis Hospital’s National Helpline number 91-8376804102 which is available 24×7. You can also contact the Government Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline ‘KIRAN’ at 18005990019 which is available 24×7.)
