M A I N   N E W S

Fiat on PM’s Teacher’s Day speech puts Punjab schools in a fix
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Tuning in to the PM Centre has directed all schools to make sure that all students watch Modi’s address on September 5 from 3 pm to 4:45 pm School authorities say the order has ruined the usual organisation of functions to honour teachers on the day Making arrangements for the uninterrupted telecast of the speech has put an additional financial burden on the management as the circular doesn’t talk about funds to be released for the purpose

Chandigarh, August 30
The Centre’s directive to the state government to ensure all students watch PM Narendra Modi’s live televised Teacher’s Day speech on September 5 has put 40,000 schools in Punjab in a bind.

Though authorities of all private and government schools have stepped up preparations for the smooth telecast of the speech from 3 pm to 4:45 pm, they grumbled about how the order had ruined the usual organisation of functions to honour teachers on the day.

A principal said arranging a TV/projector, speakers, internet/cable connection and generators had put an additional financial burden on the management as the circular had no mention of funds being released for the purpose.

Teachers have their reasons to be unhappy. They will have to spend almost the entire day at schools.

“It’s on this day when students make us feel special but now the government has turned the tables on us. We will have to be on our toes all day,” said another school principal. “To impress Modi and senior officials, the state government is issuing regular orders, adding to our stress,” he said.

Schools have been asked to use the Education Satellite system and the Receive Only Terminal (RoT) system for the live telecast.

Another principal said abiding by the orders meant they would have to re-schedule the function they had already planned for the day. “We will either have to cancel it or organise it late in the evening, which would mean staying back for long,” he said.

Darshan Singh Maur of the Democratic Teacher’s Front said the Centre was politicising education. “I wonder why the government is forcing a Class-1 student to listen to the PM when he may not have the acumen to comprehend what the PM says,” he said.

The state government has directed all schools that any snag with the current Edu-Sat or the RoT system should be rectified by September 4. All teachers have been asked to reach schools by 8 am and ensure attendance of all students. Anjali Bhawra, principal secretary, school education, said the government would release funds, if necessary.