TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Even as the Centre tried to play down the furore over the attendance of all school kids for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Teacher’s Day speech on television, saying it was not compulsory, the State in two circulars has made it “binding” and “enjoined” on all school managements to make arrangements to ensure that their school children assemble from 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm on September 5, to watch it.
In a circular issued by the Union HRD ministry, its Secretary Rajarshi Bhattacharya had asked all schools “to make arrangements to assemble the children… “in order that the children may view the Prime Minister’s address on TV.”
After receiving this circular in August, the Director Education Anil Powar in his initial circular to all heads of government, aided, unaided primary, secondary and higher secondary schools and ADEIs stated that “it is enjoined upon all the heads of govt/govt aided/unaided non-govt primary/secondary and higher secondary schools in the State of Goa to make arrangements to assemble their school children from 2.30 to 4.45 pm so that the children may view the Prime Minister’s address on TV”.
The latest circular dated September 2 (Tuesday) goes even further saying that it is “binding on all heads of institutions and their managements to make the necessary arrangements”. The September 2 circular further directed those schools with no facilities “to contact the panchayats and even neighbouring houses to conduct the program.”
The circulars to the schools about the PM’s address were issued during the Ganesh vacation, wherein they were asked to submit the details about their arrangement by September 3, when the school re-opened.
However, after the controversy erupting over the issue on participation, the Union Minister Smriti Irani had told media said that the participation for the program was not “mandatory” but “voluntary.”
After this announcement of its Union Ministry, the Education Department issued the September 2 circular, which far from calling the Assembly of children voluntary, used the word “binding:”
“The schools are free to adjust the timings of the school to organize Teachers Day as well as PM address,” R S Samant deputy director said in the second circular said adding that the expenditure needed to be incurred may be adjusted through PTA fund, school complex funds.
Directions have been issued to enhance the quantum of the mid-day meal, along with providing necessary transport facilities.
