The indifference of the private schools managements towards the celebration of the national days has become evident on Tuesday as most of such schools remained closed on the day the nation celebrated the birth anniversaries of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri with enthusiasm.
However, by contrast, all the government schools were open and the anniversaries of both the giants were celebrated enthusiastically. In the government schools, the students took out Prabhat Pheris while raising slogans for non- violence, truth and patriotism. Thereafter, the assemblies were held in the schools during which the school heads informed them about the life of Mahatma Gandhi and the values he embodied, espoused and struggled for. Teachers also informed the students about the peerless honesty, simplicity and courage Lal Bahadur Shastri personified. National flags were unfurled in all the government schools on the occasion. Special Mid Day Meal (MDM) comprising of Kheer and Puri was served to the students in the government schools. This was followed by cultural programmes which consisted of plays, songs and dances, all themed on love of the motherland.
A teacher posted in remote school at Ekeshwar block of Pauri Garhwal said that the school children had prepared for the cultural programmes for the past many days. “For the government schools, the national days are the occasion of annual day of the schools where some guests are invited and prizes are distributed among the students who excel in different fields,” she informed.
In sharp contrast, the students studying in the private schools remained deprived of all these positive activities as they were perforce ensconced in their homes on the day. In an exception of sorts, the students of DAV school, Defence Colony participated in a massive sanitation drive in the locality.
The parents of the students of private schools are of the view that Gandhi Jayanti should be celebrated in all the schools. “When we were kids we used to celebrate such occasions as Gandhi Jayanti, Independence Day and Republic Day in our schools. The tradition should not be allowed to die. The students need to remember those who embody the soul of the nation,” said Himanshu Nautiyal, a resident of Shastri Nagar.
When contacted by The Pioneer, the chief education officer ( CEO) Dehradun, S B Joshi said that the students of both government and private schools should celebrate national days. “Though most of the private schools here are affiliated to CBSE or ICSE boards we will issue order to these schools to celebrate occasions like Gandhi Jayanti,’’ he said.