A Directorate of Education (DoE) circular making attendance man datory at 6 am on Sunday, June 21, for Internation al Yoga Day has sparked widespread resentment across Goa. Educators, par ent-teacher associations, and community leaders have slammed the direc tive as insensitive, argu ing it strips teachers of their solitary day of rest, creates transport risks for children, and infring es upon the religious ob ligations of the Catholic community. Catholic Association of Goa (CAG) President Cyril Fernandes criticised the government’s directive re quiring teachers, students and parents to attend Yoga Day celebrations on a Sunday morning.
“The government should not inconvenience teachers, students and par ents by calling them to schools early on a Sunday, which is traditionally a day of rest and religious observance for many. Compelling attendance disrupts their weekly holiday and disregards their personal and religious commitments. This directive reflects a lack of sensitivity towards the con cerns of the people affected by it. Furthermore, making participation man datory for children attending special schools is completely inhuman and insensitive to their needs and circumstances. I hope better sense prevails and the government reconsiders this directive in the larger public inter est,” Fernandes said. Adv (Fr) Michael Fernandes said, “By making attendance mandatory on Sunday, the government is affecting the regular services which are spirit ually binding on the Catholic community.
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They cannot skip Sunday Mass and attendance is obligatory. If they don’t attend, it is considered a sin committed by the concerned individual. In villages there are no masses after 8 am. Also this Sunday is Catechetical inaugural day and youngsters are mandatorily required to attend their Sunday catechism classes com pulsorily. This is a most unwise and unwarranted decision. There is no ap plication of mind by the government in this regard.” Headmaster of MIBK High School, Khandepar-Ponda, Dattatray Naik said, “This event is more political than health-related. Why are prima ry students asked to come to school to listen to the Prime Minister’s address at 6 am? In any case we listen to the PM’s speech at home. We have to start Bal Rath buses at 5:30 am and it is a punishment to par ents. It is a risk. The programme should have been organised during school hours.” Headmaster of A J Almeida High School, Ponda, Pravin Concar said, “Calling students to listen to the Prime Minister’s speech at 6.30 am was not required. It is a burden on parents, who will have to wake up their children and get them ready for school early in the morning. Secondly, there is no clarity in the government circular.
We have been asked to send 35 students and two teachers to the government-designated centre at the Sports Complex in Ponda, while also making arrangements at the school level. Our school does not have adequate space to accommodate all the students and we will conduct the programme on the playground, hoping there is no rain. Many teachers and staff members commute from distant places and it appears that their inconvenience has not been taken into consideration. Teachers are often taken for granted. This programme seems to be driven more by political considerations than by any genuine national interest. The authorities should have consulted schools before issuing such directives.” PTA chairman Rupesh Shinkre said, “The government cannot be rigid and has to be flexible and progressive. International Yoga Day is not like Independence Day and Republic Day. The government could have asked schools to celebrate it on Saturday. Yoga can be done at home since it is a way of life. To reach school at 6 am, the parents will have to wake up early to prepare breakfast. What will minor students understand of the PM’s ad dress? The event is more for photo ops. The government has to be practical rather than looking for publicity.” PTA member Cecille Rodrigues said, “The government should make at tendance for the International Yoga Day session optional for teachers and students, not mandatory on Sunday. We appreciate the intent to promote yoga on International Yoga Day because yoga is valuable, and we teach it ourselves.
However, mandating attendance on a Sunday for teachers and students is deeply concerning. Goan teachers have had no summer break due to Census and election duties in extreme heat. Many serve on contract for years, some without timely pay and some have not been paid for years. Sunday is their only day for rest, family and recovery. Compulsion contra dicts yoga’s core principle: consent. Wellness cannot be forced. Forced at tendance on a holiday will breed resentment, not health. The programme should be shifted to school hours on a working day. Let’s promote yoga through inspiration not imposition.” When contacted, Director of Education Shailesh S Zingde said, “It’s a Gov ernment of India initiative. But the State government has acknowledged the concerns raised by teachers and parents regarding travel distances and scheduling conflicts, particularly for those in the Catholic community attending morning Mass. That is why to reduce the burden on students and staff the government has provided the option to attend yoga sessions at any convenient local venue rather than travelling to school.
Local au thorities are encouraged to host programmes in accessible community spaces, such as church premises or neighbourhood centres. For example, Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai will organize the Yoga Day event in the local church premises for the convenience of Catholic brothers and sisters. As the programmes are expected to conclude by 8 am, participants will still have sufficient time to attend religious services or other Sunday com mitments.” Zingde opined that the initiative should be seen as a non-political, gov ernment-led effort focused on public health. While the early start may cause minor inconvenience, the emphasis is on the symbolic importance of the day and the long-term health benefits of regular practice.
