Institut Le Rosey: The hidden truth behind the most expensive school in the world
- Distressed Indian parents left to fend for their daughter’s rights with the school’s disgraceful demeanour of protecting the offenders
Chennai, 11 May 2020: Institut Le
Rosey, commonly referred to as Le Rosey or simply Rosey and one of the oldest
boarding schools in Switzerland is embroiled in a disgraceful situation because
of its failure and the serious lack of sensitivity to deal with bullying
towards an Indian student. The title of the most expensive private school in
the world goes to Institut Le Rosey, with an annual tuition of $115,000 (basic
fees plus costs) per year. However, the recent incident of a student from a
renowned family from India being subjected to harrowing mental and emotional
harassment, at the behest of her fellow students and painfully negligent
faculty, puts a serious dent on the image and credibility of such schools that
are already charging an exorbitant fee. Serious allegations have been raised
that the elitist school failed to protect their daughter from bullying which
ultimately led to serious cyber harassment and attacks towards the young teen.
The case is an eye opener for all
parents that work hard their entire life to send their children to such
seemingly prestigious schools and begs the question ‘Is the name tag ultimately
worth it?” As Indian origin parents Radhika & Pankaj Oswal realized! As
responsible parents they too had many dreams for their daughter and thought
that sending their daughter to an institution like Le Rosey would provide her
with not just a world-class education but also the best pastoral care. But they
say that “It has become clear, however, that the standards of the school have
dropped in recent years, and it is now fast becoming just a playground for rich
students to do as they please.”
Commenting on the incident, Radhika
Oswal, parent of aggrieved student said “We are disappointed and appalled at
the treatment that has been given to our daughter by an institute, and the
faculty that has failed miserably to uphold its own code of conduct. The values
that the institute ostensibly imparts pertaining to ‘respect’ and ‘physical
integrity’ as well as for the ‘religious, philosophical and political
convictions’ of students, have been made a mockery of, and are at this point
nothing but marketing whitewash!.”
Following a serious set of bullying
incidents against their child, the parents raised their concerns to the school
and asked for action to be taken to ensure their child’s safety. The school’s
senior management however showed no willingness to act or even acknowledge that
there was an issue. The bullying meanwhile escalated into systematic harassment
and cyber bullying. The student was mocked on social media groups with other
students witnessing. Instead of addressing the bullying or trying to come to a
reasonable conclusion, Le Rosey cancelled the bullied student’s re-enrolment
for the following academic year, without any explanation. The parents say that
there is also clear evidence of other Indian children being harassed because of
their background, culture and choice to be vegetarian.
Radhika Oswal further added “It is
unfortunate that we have heard of other Indian students being taunted for their
ethnicity, shockingly even by a member of the faculty. It is sadder that many
Indian parents continue the education of their children in this school, despite
their children being told disrespectful and racist remarks such as that India
is the dustbin of Asia, and that Indian parents look like sweepers. It is
shocking when children are taunted and made fun of multiple times on their
decision to be vegetarian, their culture and their religious beliefs, but even
sadder when parents do not take action”.
Other issues relating to Le Rosey’s
Code of Conduct have also been raised. Le Rosey’s fifth ‘Major Rule’ is that
‘possession or consumption of alcoholic drinks on or off-campus throughout the
week’ is a ‘major offence’. The code of conduct also deems smoking and ‘leaving
a building without authorization’ at night as major offences.
Contrary to this, underage drinking
and smoking is reportedly prevalent in the school. First-hand accounts also
suggest that unruly students can frequently be seen at clubs outside and bars
around Le Rosey during term time, spending lavishly on expensive drinks.
The parents have under righteous
obligation, tried to raise their daughter’s concern in front of the school’s
management, but apparently in vain, as if a matter of concern of the child’s
safety within the school were inconsequential. On the contrary, Le Rosey and
its faculty painstakingly were involved in the character assassination of their
young daughter by lowering her evaluation grades since she was one of the
highest achievers of her class, supporting the students who attacked her
mentally, even cancelling her contention for a re-enrollment to the next school
year and subjecting her to unimaginable mental torture, in an ultimate bid to
try to subjugate her into silence.
Following a failure to reach an
agreement in a conciliation hearing, the parents say they had little choice but
to take Le Rosey to court. The parents want a public apology for their daughter
and a promise that the school will now start to live up to its own - supposedly
high - standards. They are concerned that other students at the school may also
be victims and be suffering in silence.
Adding to this, Pankaj Oswal said “We
are saddened that it has come to this but as parents are duty-bound to act. Le
Rosey has failed in their responsibility towards the welfare of a child. It is
entirely unacceptable. The school has prioritized having a yacht on Lake Geneva
and multiple extravagant events over ensuring the basic levels of care are met.
As parents we are in a state of shock and it hurts to know what our brave
daughter has had to stand upto at a young age. And just like all parents, we
don’t want her to be a victim, but a champion of a cause that has once caused
her so much pain, so that it may not do the same to others. To us, she will
always be a hero who stood as bravely as she could in the face of her greatest
adversity and decided not to be silenced by her oppressors. We hope that this
moment makes Le Rosey reflect on what a world-class education really looks like
and take action to ensure that this doesn’t happen to any more students.”
The parents have taken the moral onus
of fighting for their child’s future and justice for many such future Indian
students as their daughter, to uphold justice and parity. With faith in the
Swiss legal system and an expectation that truth and justice shall eventually
prevail, Radhika & Pankaj Oswal have decided to be the harbingers of
change, standing up against bullying and abuse. This is not about money,
but principle. They have pledged any financial award to be entirely donated
towards charitable causes.
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