Aarav, a 12-year-old Indian-origin student in Sydney, has been expelled by his school after he attended a national tennis tournament without informing the school authorities. According to Australian media reports, Aarav found out on the first day of Tennis Australia’s week-long, invite-only age championships that he was expelled by the Redeemer Baptist School in North Parramatta. His parents, Hari and Lavanya, said they were shocked by the school’s decision, as Aarav did not ignore his studies and is actually a straight-A student. They said Aarav only missed two days of school this year for tennis.“I requested he be excused for this week and they came back with … we are withdrawing his enrollment and expelling him from the school, the parents told A Current Affair, a television program“Three to four days a week he finishes school at 3.30pm … and has to be in the court at 5 o’clock, play until 8.30pm, come back, shower, sit and do his homework,” his mother said. Aarav too shared how he squeezes out time for homework. “I do homework during school hours, recess and lunch, and on the school bus. I don’t think I should be expelled for missing a week to go to some major event for nationals and stuff like that,” Aarav said. Hari said they had been unable to find a school to take him immediately but had secured enrolment for next year.
School cites rulebook, defends decision to expel Aarav
Russell Bailey, headmaster at Redeemer School, said the rulebook mandates 90% attendance and parents should seek advance permission if the child is taken for activities not related to the school. “We require parents to seek advance permission when their child requires absence for sporting events or other activities that are not school-related – and this allows us to work with families to minimise any impact on education,” the headmaster said. “We have supported students with this approach as they have competed in high-level competitions across a range of inter-school, statewide, national and international competitions including in archery, golf, gymnastics, athletics, computing, football, music and science,” it said.
