‘Glass piece’ in Ahmedabad school meal leads to ruckus over ‘Malala Yousafzai in syllabus’

Several parents protested outside a private school in Ahmedabad's Shilaj area over a "piece of glass" allegedly found in the food served to primary students the day before. The issue escalated into allegations that the Anand Niketan School, Shilaj campus, was "discriminating" against a specific religion and students were being required to read books by Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank.

The school then issued a statement claiming they had taken "immediate corrective measures," including changes in supervisory responsibility and a review of hygiene and food safety protocols.

The District Education Officer (DEO) issued a show-cause notice to the school, requesting clarification on the "glass chip" found in the food. In response, the school declared a school holiday for primary sections on Wednesday. On Monday, a Class 8 student felt something hard in his mouth while eating his lunch of ladyfinger, dal chapati, and rice at the school campus, realizing he had chewed a "piece of glass."

His father, Malav Shah, told The Indian Express that his son was taken to a hospital, not the school infirmary, and parents were sent there instead. Shah alleged the school's management had been "irresponsible" and demanded the "glass piece" be handed over to them for a doctor's examination. The school denied allegations of religious discrimination and said the books were part of an "educational literature" program to encourage reading and global awareness.

The school clarified its decision to declare a holiday for primary sections, stating that it was due to staff mental health concerns and not harassment from parents. The school retracted its initial message about a mental health break for teachers within an hour, reiterating that classes 9-12 would continue as usual. The school also addressed concerns about unauthorized gatherings within the premises, emphasizing the need for safety and security.

The Ahmedabad DEO requested a detailed explanation from the school regarding the incident, including the source of the food, quality checks, and future preventive measures.