New Delhi: HRD Minister Smriti Irani clarified Monday that listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to students on Teachers' Day Sep 5 was "completely voluntary".
"This particular activity is completely voluntary and if there has been any miscommunication over this issue and is (seen to be) politically contrived, I would say it is regrettable," she said.
According to a central government circular, all schools across the country have been told to make arrangements for children to view Modi's live address on television.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which sent out the circular, has directed schools to make arrangements for the event between 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sep 5.
Modi is scheduled to address students and hold an interactive question-answer session from 3 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.
The interaction would be telecast live on Doordarshan. It would also be available on the web site of the human resource development ministry.
Since schools usually close by afternoon, a section of school principals here has questioned the timing of the Modi-student interaction.
"It is good the prime minister wants to connect with children. But he can do it during the school timing. Why hold the interaction in the afternoon when most schools are closed?" Jyoti Bose, principal of Springdales School in south Delhi, told the media.
The principal of a private school told IANS: "We will have to stay in the schools till 5 p.m. Where is the respite for teachers on this special day?"
Modi is to interact with students of Delhi schools in person and those from Leh, Ladakh, Port Blair, Silchar (Assam) and Imphal among others through satellite links.
All schools have been asked to submit a report by Monday 5 p.m. on the arrangements made by the authorities and the number of students likely to attend the address.
Complying with the directive, some schools have sent messages to parents.
"Students of Classes 1-12 must be present in schools Sep 5 from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. to watch the prime minister's live address," said one such message.
Another circular sent by the directorate of education of Delhi said that any laxity in the arrangements shall be viewed seriously.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
On Monday, Modi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome followed by summit-level talks in which the two sides will seek to take their strategic partnership to a new level. Agreements are expected to be signed in defence and the two sides would discuss cooperation in infrastructure, civil nuclear energy and production of rare earth materials.... More
Also Read: Modi, Abe strike chord, India hopes ties reach full potential
Later that year, former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright spoke on US foreign policy at New Delhi’s India International Centre. During Q and A, I cited Peck as an outstanding example of the liberal American conscience. Albright was not impressed. She ... More
My silence over ISIS does not mean that I support the group even if some fools take my silence as a sign that I do. There are many reasons why I’ve not spoken out against ISIS. For a start, I’m ... More
Industrialists scroll from one office to another with requests to stop illegal blasts carried in and around MIDC office but mining mafia given free run in exchange of huge money
As local industrialists stroll from one office to another with a plea to stop blasts carried by illegal mining mafia in and around the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area.... More