Awis Mranani – A six-year-old Indonesian girl was kicked out of her elementary school on World AIDS Day because her father is HIV positive.
Leonnie Merinsca, the mother of the child, told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that her daughter's admission to Don Bosco elementary school in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, was revoked on Thursday because her father was HIV positive. She said the school was demanding that the girl submit to blood tests to prove she was free of the disease.
"The school and our family are still having a disagreement about the issue of discrimination," Leonnie said. "The school believes that what they are doing is not discrimination because they would take the same measures if there was any student with other infectious diseases, not just HIV/AIDS."
On Thursday, Leonnie's daughter, who had been admitted to the school, was informed – by text message – that she was no longer welcome at the school because other parents had objected to her presence.
"I think what they are doing is discrimination, not only to my child but to our family and the public, especially those living with HIV/AIDS," Leonnie said.
Leonnie and her husband objected to any attempts to force their daughter to submit to a blood test. He said the school would not only fight for her right to attend the school, but would also demand the school make a public apology in the media.
"The school's action has hurt not only our family but many people with HIV/AIDS, that's why I think they should apologize," Leonnie said.
On an interview with Metro TV, Paul Yosa Handoko, education division head of the school's foundation, the Panca Dharma Foundation, would only apologize for sending the family the news via a text message.
The girl would still have to undergo a blood test to have her enrollment ban reconsidered, he said. "All we can do as parents is to find a school that can guarantee equal treatment for my child," Leonnie said. "I hope this case can open our eyes that discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS should not be tolerated."
Leonnie has not decided where to enroll her child because most schools have not started the admission process.