Teachers upset at obligatory viewing

Many teachers see it as a ‘ hijack’ of the day meant for teachers and not for politicians

Teachers in Punjab would be sulking on the Teacher’s Day this year. The reason — a diktat from the Union government to the state government to ensure that all the schools make it compulsory to view the live speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Teachers Day.

The teaching fraternity in the state is viewing this order as an unnecessary irritant on a day when teachers are made to feel important. There are many teachers who see it as a “hijack” of the day meant for teachers and not for politicians. Registering its opposition, the Punjab Democratic Teachers Front has accused the Union government of politicising education, “There is no need for compulsory viewing of the Prime Minister’s speech on Teachers Day. How is a Class 1 student supposed to comprehend the Prime Minister’s speech? Moreover, it is a day when teachers are valued for their contribu- tion to society. The Prime Minister giving a speech is unprecedented,” said Darshan Singh Maur of the group.

In all, more than 40,000 schools of the state have to gear up for the live telecast of the PM’s speech. Already, the schools authorities are preparing for the smooth telecast of the speech. Schools have been asked to use the education satellite system and the receive- only terminal ( RoT) system for the live telecast. However, the teachers are complaining about the move in private. They feel that now they have to spend entire day at the school as the speech is scheduled to be at 3 pm.

The day is otherwise celebrated with cultural programmes and students trying to make their teachers feel special.