PANAJI
The Directorate of Education on Wednesday clarified that the government decision to bar schools from conducting any religious or political activities or allow external individuals and organisations to interact with students without obtaining prior written approval was a precautionary measure to prevent students from being misled.
Clarifying the rationale behind the department's recent circular, Zingade said several schools had been approaching the department after receiving requests from various individuals and organisations seeking permission to deliver lectures and awareness programmes on different issues.
"Many schools were approaching us stating that many people wanted to give lectures to our students on various issues. Hence, we issued general circular asking schools to be careful and not allow anyone to misguide students," Zingade said.
He said the circular was prompted by a recent incident in Quepem where an individual reportedly addressed students inside a school and urged them to ask their parents to vote for him.
"Such incidents should not happen. Hence, we have asked schools to ensure that no religious or political activities are permitted in schools. If they still want to organise such programmes, prior permission of the Directorate of Education has to be obtained," he said.
Calling the directive purely preventive in nature, Zingade said, "These are precautionary measures."
He warned that schools violating the circular would face disciplinary action. "We will take disciplinary action against schools that violate the circular, and schools will be accountable for any further consequences," he said.
Zingade also clarified that the department's decisions had been taken in consultation with the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and were in line with the National Education Policy (NEP).
"Our decisions are taken in consultation with SCERT and within the scope of the NEP," he said.
