School children can’t be made to suffer on Teachers Day : #AamAadmiParty

On Sep 2, 2014

HRD ministry responsible for needless controversy on Teachers Day

The day is for teachers to celebrate and not to spend extra hours in school

It is unfortunate that the union human resources development (HRD) ministry has created a needless controversy over the Teachers Day celebrations.
The ministry needs to come clean on its advisory to states about making necessary arrangments for the telecast of Prime Minister’s programme in schools on September 5.
The HRD minister’s statement that it is voluntary for students and they would not be forced to be present in their schools between 3 and 5 PM, has further confused the issue.
The minister’s statement and the circular sent by the Directorate of Education, Delhi administration, (which is available on its website), clearly contradict each other.
Though the minister has termed it voluntary, the circular sent to all schools of Delhi states :“It has been directed by the Ministry of Human Resources Development that all the schools throughout the country are to make arrangements so that children shall view the Prime Minister’s live address on TV. Therefore, all HOS of Govt/Govt, Aided/Unaided/MCDs/ NDMC/Cantonment Board Schools shall make arrangement to assemble the children in order from 2.30 p.m. to 4.45 p.m. on that day so that children view the Prime Minister’s address.”
The circular further states : “Following directions are issued in this regard:- 1. All Heads of the Government Schools of Delhi running in single shift shall make arrangement to hold the classes from 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on s” September, 2014.Govt. Aided/Unaided schools may opt for either of the timings from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. or 01.00 p.m. to 05:30 p.m. as per their logistic requirements.”
It is shocking that clear orders have been issued to keep children away from their homes on Teachers Day for almost 11 hours. Has the HRD ministry forgotten all norms of decency ? What is the reason for such an inhuman order ? Why is there such a desperation to harass the students ?
The Aam Aadmi Party is of the clear view that there is nothing wrong in Prime Minister engaging with the students, but it could have been planned and certainly implemented in a much better way.
The HRD ministry could have atleast ensured that the programme took place during the school hours to avoid such a controversy and inconvenience to teachers on a day which they should be celebrating.