Mashood Ahmad
‘Conduct of Kala Utsav Competition -2022 and issuance of schedule of events thereof’ circular no. DSEK/CEW/27922801, dated: 29-10-2022 accessed by The Kashmiriyat reads: ‘all the Principals, Zonal Education Officers, and Headmasters of this district to strictly follow the below schedule of events in order to conduct the competition at the District level well in time as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, GoI
School level. To be conducted upto 3rd Nov.
Zonal level. To be conducted upto 5th Nov.
District level. To be conducted upto 10th Nov.’
From 15 August 2022 onwards Ministry of Education, Government of India started different activities and campaigns like Har Ghar Tiranga, where students were asked to participate in the week-long commemoration which included flag hoisting and participating in foot marches.
‘In compliance with the instructions received from District Administration, All the Principals, Zonal Education Officers and Headmasters of Schools falling under the jurisdiction of Chief Education Officer Anantnag are directed to collect Rs. 20/=(Rupees Twenty only) per student enrolled in their school and deposit the same in the concerned Zonal Education Office (Nodal Officer) up to 2:00 pm by 23-07-2022 positively,’ the order from the Anantnag district Chief Education Officer said, which was withdrawn, later on.
“Circular issued by this office vide No. Nil Dated: 21-07-2022 regarding contribution on account of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect,” read the withdrawal notice.
Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti JK admin had earlier released a month-long schedule for school celebrations, “The School Education Department JKUT is celebrating 153 Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in JKUT with full esteem by involving students and teachers for the month-long following calendar of activities w.e.f 5th September 2022 to 2nd October 2022,” the official notice reads.
The latest notice calls for the observance of Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day), Kala Utsav (Talent Hunt) and other different campaigns at school levels which stretch almost to months on end. The format of activities and campaigns is such that each activity/campaign requires almost a week to end. The order for the observance of the Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day) via Project Director Samagra Shiksha JK’s order no. Edu/PD/SMS/EBSB/8000-23/2022-23 dated: 21-10-2022, says: ‘it is impressed upon all the Head of the Institutions to organize the day-wise activities as per the below format:
1. Human Unity Chains
2. Unity Concerts in EBSB mode
3. Nukkad/ Nataks on Sardar Patel
4. Unity Cycle Railers
5. Pan India Bike Rallies
6. Participation at Big Event at Kevadia
7. Unity runs.’
It is pertinent to mention here that while the order says that the Rashtriya Ekta Divas is to be observed and celebrated on the 31 of October but the format of the scheduled activities starts from the 25th of October to 31 of October taking a full, well week in its stretch.
Worried students feel the unending cycle of activities is costing them heavily. Students say that these types of activities should be held as they help them to learn about diverse things, but not at the cost of their academics. “I take part in these activities and I think these types of activities should be held they help us a lot, they give us academic exposure and help us to remain motivated,” Ariz a class 7th student said.
Farhan Ameen, a student in 10th standard said that he did not take part in these activities. “Our studies have got disturbed by the commencement of these types of activities. While attending these types of activities, we miss out on our classes, and the portion of the syllabus that we miss while attending these activities/campaigns is not taken care of,” Farhan told The Kashmiriyat.
Asking how to cover the missed-out portion of the syllabus, Farhan says we do not cover it at all.
Mohsin Ahmad, another student in 10th standard says, “I took part in these activities once. Although these activities help us learn from them, our studies do get disturbed. I cover the missed-out classes on my own. Sometimes I take tuitions.”
Jasia Shakeel a student in 9th standard says that they cover the missed-out syllabus on their own while Danish Ahmad says that he takes the help of the ‘toppers’ of his class. “There is no option available or no arrangements are kept in place by the school authorities in order to help the students who miss out on their classes while attending these types of activities,” Danish said.
A government teacher at the high school level with thirty-two years of experience in the education field, wishing anonymity said that these activities should be held as they impart much-needed self-confidence and academic exposure in the students but should not be held at the cost of the academic career of the students.
“By holding such kinds of events for months, students particularly at the primary level lose momentum in their academics, and to bring them back on track it becomes very difficult,” he told The Kashmiriyat.