The School Education Department has ordered a probe into an incident in which two students of Panchayat Union Middle School in Periyar, Erode were seen painting on the school floor in a video clip that went viral on social media on Wednesday.
The 2.24-minute-long video was shot on Tuesday by Shanmugam, former AIADMK panchayat vice-president, who was also the former chairman of the school management committee.
The video shows two Class 7 students kneeling and painting on the floor outside the classroom. When Mr. Shanmugam questions why he is painting, the headmistress Dhanalakshmi is heard saying that since the boys need to paint on the walls, they are given training. There are 53 students of classes 1 to 8 studying in a school with five teachers.
Mr Shanmugam claimed that both the students belonged to the Scheduled Caste community and the headmistress forced them to take up painting work. He wanted that action should be taken against him.
Denying the allegation, Ms Dhanalakshmi said the school assistant was painting on the floor and when she went to the lunch center, the boys, who were leaving for leave, got to work.
Sources claimed that the classrooms and toilets in the school were recently renovated by a foundation and Modakkurichi MLA C. Saraswati inaugurated the works. This angered the local AIADMK functionaries who questioned the headmistress after which a dispute arose.
When contacted, Chief Education Officer M. Ramakrishnan said Hindu The officials have been asked to conduct an inquiry after which action will be taken accordingly.