Students Forced to Clean Toilets in Bengaluru Government School Spark Outrage

Bengaluru, April 7, 2025 – A disturbing incident has come to light from a government school in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka area, where students were allegedly forced to clean toilets despite strict directives from the Karnataka Education Department prohibiting such practices. The incident, reported on Monday, has reignited concerns over child welfare and the enforcement of educational regulations in the state.

Social activist Beltur Paramesh lodged a complaint with the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) after witnessing students cleaning the school’s sanitation facilities. Paramesh, speaking to local media, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Students go to school to acquire knowledge, not to clean toilets or sewage.” He provided video evidence showing children engaged in cleaning overflowing sewage on the school premises, further fueling public outrage.

The Karnataka Education Department had previously issued a clear order on March 26, 2025, mandating that any school staff found compelling students to clean toilets would face an immediate First Information Report (FIR) and disciplinary action. This directive was communicated to all government primary and high schools following similar incidents in the past, including one in December 2023 when a headmistress in Bengaluru was detained for the same offense. Despite these measures, the recurrence of such practices has raised questions about accountability and oversight in the education system.

In response to the allegations, Assistant Principal Kannamma of the Government Junior College in Yelahanka claimed she was on official duty elsewhere during the incident and denied that students were forced to clean toilets. “We have an NSS [National Service Scheme] team that took up cleaning the premises along with teachers. We never compelled students to clean the toilet area,” she stated. However, the video evidence and complaint contradict her account, prompting calls for a thorough investigation.

This is not an isolated case in Karnataka. Earlier this year, two teachers from a government school in Begur, southeast Bengaluru, were suspended after a video surfaced showing students cleaning toilets. That incident, which occurred in January but gained attention in March, led to an FIR against the headmistress and a physical training teacher. Parents and activists have since demanded stricter enforcement of the Education Department’s policies to protect students from exploitation.

The Karnataka government has yet to release an official statement on the Yelahanka incident, but pressure is mounting for swift action. Paramesh suggested that schools should hire cleaning staff or secure additional support to maintain premises safely, prioritizing students’ education and well-being over manual labor. As the investigation unfolds, this incident underscores the ongoing challenge of ensuring dignity and safety for students in government schools across the state.