Schools directed to celebrate ‘surgical strike day’ for three days

Srinagar, Sep 28: While directing schools not to celebrate ‘annual day’ in order to complete the syllabus, the government has directed the Education Department officials to organise activities in schools for three days to celebrate ‘surgical strike day’.

An official of the department said that government has directed the schools not to celebrate annual day functions in schools. “The school authorities have been directed instead to complete the syllabus,” the official said.

At the same time, the government has asked education department officials to organise activities in public schools from September 28 to 30 to celebrate ‘surgical strike day’ and submit photos and videos of the celebrations by October 1.

According to a circular by the Secretary concerned, the Broadcasting and Information Ministry has issued directions for holding activities to observe Saturday September 29th as the ‘Surgical Strike Day’.

“Accordingly, Principal Secretary Home Department has issued directions to ensure celebration of the day by organising activities from September 28 to 30 at various levels across the state,” the circular reads.

The schools have been directed to celebrate the ‘valour’ of the armed forces for three days – September 28 to 30 – and a list of activities has also been given in the circular.

“All schools with units of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) shall organize special parade followed by ‘motivational’ lectures or talks by inviting war veterans and other related persons,” the circular reads.

The government has directed the schools with NCC units to invite war veterans and organise a special parade followed by ‘motivational’ lectures.

It also asked the department officials to make school children pledge their support for armed forces by writing letter or cards to them, addressed to the nearest Army formation.

“The schools shall arrange blank cards to children for writing/creating messages,” the circular reads.

The Education Department authorities were directed to send one page report of the activities along with pictures and videos to the office of the secretary through director school education.

“Both directors (of Kashmir and Jammu divisions) shall consolidate the report and send it to the office of the undersigned by or before October 1,” it added.

The school authorities have been directed that they shell send reports of the activities conducted along with the pictures and videos to Center Government through Director School education Kashmir and Jammu respectively.

Chief Education Officer, Ganderbal, Gayas-u-din, said, “We have instructions from directorate office and we have forwarded direction to the concerned authorities to celebrate the day.”

He said that the instructions have been given to some specific school including those government schools that have NCC units and all Army schools like NavodayaVidyalya, Kendriyavidyalya, Sainik School, Army Goodwill School, Police Public School.

However Chief Education Officer, Srinagar, Mudasir Kaleem Fazili told The Kashmir Monitor that he did not know anything about the issue.

Director Education Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Itoo, was not available to comment.