the goan I network
PANAJI
Woes for the academic community in Goa continue. This time round, students and teachers alike are being kept busy on account of the father of the nation’s 150th birth anniversary.
Even as the country is witnessing a dearth of Gandhian values in practice ever since the controversial CAA was passed, schools are being expected to pay their token respect to Gandhi.
And while Mahatma Gandhi had just one birthday, and one 150th birth anniversary, teachers and students are being made to commemorate it for an entire two years, in keeping with the “national and international level.”
Teachers have been handed over a circular seemingly from the Director of Education Vandana Rao which was sent to heads of institutions, asking that Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary be commemorated right upto October 2, 2020 with different sorts of activities in Gandhi’s name.
Schools have been given a list of activities to conduct: writing 150 quotes on Mahatma, carrying out 150 days of community service by students/schools, planting 150 trees, walking or padhyatra of 150 kms, cycling 150 kms, doing 150 deeds of kindness, saving 150 liters of water, writing 50 articles on newspapers and mass jogging with 150 schools in a district. Photographs and videos need to be furnished on Google Drive.
With the large number of circulars being sent to schools, the Directorate has forgotten to either put both the date on the circular, which reads just Feb 2020, as well as signature of the director herself. At the end of the circular, there is just Rao’s name, unlike dozens of other circulars which have all been signed.
‘The Goan’ had in fact received a copy of the circular last week, but refrained from publishing on account of the lack of authenticity without Rao’s signature. However, the same circular is now with all schools for implementation.
A copy of the circular uploaded to the DoE website however, has both these missing details.
