Campaign launch coincides with State holiday
By Our Reporter
Shillong: The nationwide launch of the year-long community awareness and mobilization programme ‘Shiksha ka Haq Abhiyan’ (RTE campaign) aimed to increase awareness about the Right to Education Act, to be inaugurated in the State by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma in Tura, has created confusion among the school authorities since the launch coincides with the Wangala Festival which has been declared as a State holiday.
As per the directive of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), all schools have been directed to read the Prime Minister’s message during the school morning assembly as part of the launching of the nationwide campaign.
But with the day being declared as the State holiday, local schools would remain closed.
When contacted, School Education and Literacy director JD Sangma said that the department has directed the District School Officers to see that few schools at least in district headquarters should organise some function as part of the launch of the awareness programme.
“We have made this arrangement since we know that the launch day coincides with the Wangala Festival which has been declared as the State holiday,” Sangma said, while adding that they have distributed the messages of not only the Prime Minister but also of Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to the schools. Meanwhile, Buddha Vidya Niketan LP School Assistant Teacher S Barua said, “As per government order, we have declared holiday on November 11 and will observe the Union Ministry directive on Children’s Day on November 14. We will read the Prime Minister’s message in the morning assembly and will also advise parents/guardians about RTE which is a constitutional right of every child.”
S Hore, Principal, Laban Bengali Girls’ HS School said that the school has declared holiday on Friday since it is a State holiday.
“We will observe the directive probably on November 15 since we would like to observe it properly,” she said. She also appreciated the message sent by Union HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal.
