2 hrs ago
Government-Aided Schools Ordered Into Modi Birthday Tribute Events
The education department told government-aided schools to join special events about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The events include plays about his public service.
Students are also being asked to take part in speeches and drawing competitions.
District officials must make sure schools know about the programmes.
They must also watch participation and report back.
The events are connected to celebrations for Modi’s birthday.
Some teachers and a headmaster said these programmes take time away from regular lessons.
They said schools need staff and resources to improve teaching instead.
The school education department directed district inspectors to maximize government-aided schools’ participation in Wednesday’s “NaMo Seva – Ankahi Kahaniyan” programme.
The programme includes musical-theatrical presentations praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service.
Schools were also asked to hold speech and drawing competitions under “25 Crore Bachho Ke Sapno Ka Bharat.”
District inspectors were told to inform schools, deploy departmental staff, monitor participation and submit feedback.
Teachers and a headmaster criticized the events for disrupting classes and diverting resources from struggling schools.
- Who
- The school education department, district inspectors, government-aided schools, students and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- Schools were directed to participate in musical-theatrical presentations, speech competitions and drawing competitions.
- Where
- Government and government-aided schools under the jurisdiction of the state’s district inspectors, including schools in Calcutta.
- When
- The main presentations were scheduled for Wednesday; the wider campaign runs from September 17 to October 7.
- Why
- The programmes are part of a campaign marking Modi’s birthday and honouring his public service.
Critics
Education Department
Impact on classroom teaching
Critics
A teacher said frequent programmes disrupt classes, especially while schools face teacher shortages and a lack of recruitment.
Education Department
The department directed schools to participate and instructed officials to deploy staff and monitor the events.
Use of school resources
Critics
A headmaster said departmental manpower should instead help revive government-aided schools that closed after recording zero enrolment.
Education Department
The department said all available departmental manpower should be engaged in conducting the programme and honouring the Prime Minister’s public service.
Student participation
Critics
The teacher questioned why schoolchildren should be expected to pay respect to the Prime Minister.
Education Department
The programmes were presented as part of a wider birthday campaign and included creative activities such as speeches, drawings and theatrical performances.
Key facts
- Main programme
- NaMo Seva – Ankahi Kahaniyan
- Additional programme
- 25 Crore Bachho Ke Sapno Ka Bharat
- Required activities
- Musical-theatrical presentations, speech competitions and drawing competitions
- Officials responsible
- District inspectors of schools
- Campaign period
- September 17 to October 7
- Earlier instruction
- Students were asked to light a diya to show gratitude for Modi’s public service.
Quotes
A government-aided school headmaster
A headmaster of a government-aided school
“If programmes are held every now and then, when will we teach? Schools struggle to hold classes because of a shortage of teachers, with no recruitment taking place over the past one decade. The possibility of holding classes gets further disrupted with these programmes.”
telegraphindia.com
“There are so many programmes where they can use the manpower. They could use the human resource in reviving the government-aided schools which have been shut down following zero enrolment.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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