Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Send pics, videos to prove students saw Modi’s chat, schools informed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have helped students with stress-busting tips and exam-preparation advice in his recent ‘Pariksha Par Charcha’. But his government caused headache to schools by subjecting them to another test-—all were asked to submit photo or video proof that students watched the national telecast of the PM’s counselling.

Sources said the HRD ministry instructed all state governments to compile reports soon after the PM’s interaction. The state governments, in turn, had sent out instructions to all schools, regardless of the boards, to provide details of students who watched the speech as well as submit photographs or videos of their participation. Schools across the country received circulars from their respective state education departments to submit the evidence by February 19. Circulars issued by various district chief education officers also included a form which sought details of the total number of schools, enrolment figures, number of schools where students viewed or heard the telecast, number of students who viewed through television or radio or web streaming on websites of PMO, MHRD, Doordarshan, MyGov.in and through internet channels (Youtube channel MHRD, FB live).

Confirming the report, Chief Education Officers in Tamil Nadu told TOIthat they had received instructions from the HRD ministry to send out the forms to all schools in the state. “We are gathering photographs from various institutions as part of the activity,” said a department official in Chennai.

(With inputs from Chennai, Kolkata and Bhopal)


PM Modi during his interactive session, 'Pariksha Par Charcha'
Compulsory participation of schools slavish: Educationist

A senior HRD official said, “The ministry has not asked for any report on participation of schools in the event. It was a routine feedback where no mandatory clause was given. It has been a practice where in such events the states or autonomous bodies like KVS and CBSE submit their feedback. No evidence was sought.”

In Madhya Pradesh, the directorate of public instructions (DPI) issued instructions to schools to send links of video recordings and pictures that they were supposed to upload on the MP school education portal. Schools were expected to submit their reports to the DPI, which would forward them to the HRD ministry. Sources said DPI officials were finding it difficult to say exactly how many students watched it on You-Tube. “How can schools calculate this data?” an official asked.

Educationist Jayaprakash Gandhi in Chennai said that nothing should be made compulsory especially during the exam season when teachers and students have their hands full and don’t have much time to spare.

Calling it “slavish”, educationist SS Rajagopalan asked, “Why is the state so submissive to the Centre?” He pointed out that many schools do not have an auditorium for all students to sit and listen and many don’t have even a radio or TV.

Asection of parents felt that gathering evidence of students viewing a speech was taking it too far. “While it is good to advice children on exam stress, it seems more like propaganda to collect evidence,” a parent said.

(With inputs from Chennai, Kolkata and Bhopal)

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