Tamil Nadu school principal suspended after video of students cleaning toilet surfaces online

A student cleaning toilet in school uniform. (Courtesy: X | @NewsTamilTV24x7)

The principal of a government school in Tamil Nadu was suspended after video of girl students cleaning toilets in their uniform went viral on social media. Around 150 tribal students, from classes 1-8, study in the school in Palakkodu village of the state's Dharmapuri district.

In the video, girl students are seen holding brooms and cleaning the school toilet. Soon after the clip surfaced online, angry and heartbroken parents as well as locals protested outside the school holding placards. They demanded immediate action against the headmistress, arguing that such tasks should never be imposed on students.

According to a report in India Today, parents claimed that their children would often return home exhausted due to being assigned cleaning tasks, including maintaining the toilets, fetching water and cleaning the school premises.

Vijaya, whose child is a student of the same school, said children's education and well-being are being compromised. "We send our children to school to study, not to clean. When they come home, they are too tired to do their homework. When we asked them why, they said they had spent their time cleaning the school and toilets instead of learning. It's heartbreaking to hear this, and it seems like the teachers are not focusing on their responsibilities to teach," she told the news site.

Dharmapuri district Chief Education Officer (CEO) has launched a probe into the incident. The District Education Officer (DEO) also confirmed the suspension of the headmistress and said that a detailed investigation would be conducted.