CBSE schools told to organise activities on special days
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Hyderabad: Too many directives to schools and universities from the Centre to celebrate occasions and “days” are leaving them annoyed. The BJP government has added quite a number of birth anniversaries to the list of commemorative days, dubbing them as nationally important days.
Universities, and more importantly CBSE schools, are asked to organise various activities for children on these days, and though participation is voluntary, schools are expected to file action-taken reports. Varsities, on the other hand, only comply when there is excessive pressure from the University Grants Commission (UGC). Schools, though, say the excessive number of commemorative days – most recently the Unity Day last Saturday – has become a burden for managements since it involves a lot of logistical work.
Educational institutions are an important focal point for the government considering they are the only places where the government has substantial control. Schools say that while they would always celebrate important days like the Republic and Independence Day, being thrust with numerous additional commemorative days has put them under severe pressure due to additional logistical burden that these activities bring.
This is also because of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) practised by CBSE schools, which is unlike the earlier quarterly, half-yearly and final exams routine.
“With the new pattern in force since several years now, teachers have to put additional energies into training and helping students. But, to add to that, if you have so many commemorative days, it becomes tedious. They say these are voluntary but seek a plan of action in advance and even action-taken reports,” a CBSE school principal said, asking not to be named.
Most recently, on Saturday (October 30), the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, christened as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, CBSE asked schools to organise a pledge on Friday, and a Run for Unity and competitions on the subject on Saturday. Before that, the Yoga Day had become controversial. It is interesting to note that other boards like the ICSE or state controlled ones don’t usually follow the Centre’s directives or more often than not don’t receive any such requests.
Schools have to report to CBSE:
The CBSE is sending at least two to three circulars each month to schools directing celebrations of commemorative days. In October, three circulars were sent directing celebrations for World Food Day, World Day for Audiovisual Heritage and the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. Apart from these, six Expression Series’ on Mahatma Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan, APJ Abdul Kalam, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were announced.
The first half of November is designated for School Swachchta Campaign for which a host of activities have been planned. Some of these include decoration of walls of classes and toilets with artwork and useful messages. Schools have to send a report to the CBSE about their activities. Interestingly, the CBSE this year has again allotted Christmas as Good Governance Day though no official circular has yet been sent. Last year, the same move had met with criticism as Christmas is a holiday.
The Union HRD Ministry had later clarified that it was voluntary and students need not come to school. The roster of activities expected to be taken up this year is yet to be announced. Good Governance Day was announced by the NDA government to honour former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s birth anniversary.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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