After the state headquarters’ reported nudge, a number of district education officers (basic shiksha adhikaris or BSAs) in Uttar Pradesh have amended their earlier orders and issued revised circulars directing schools to allow parents and the members of school management committees to visit schools and enquire into any details related to the institutions and progress of their wards.
“However, it must be ensured that the teaching process is not affected, the dignity of teachers is not compromised, and the privacy and well-being of students are not compromised. The rest of the order remains unchanged. The order should be strictly followed,” the amended order read. The order must be strictly followed. The directives had coincided with the CJP’s (Cockroach Janta Party) nationwide #SchoolThikKaro (fix the government schools) campaign on social media to improve government schools, as well as student protests over poor school facilities in different parts of UP over the last two weeks.
For instance, Manish Kumar Singh, basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) of Ballia, amended his August 7 order that prohibited the entry of unknown individuals/outsiders to ensure that the teaching of students is not affected during school hours. The amended order dated August 20 said if a parent, member of the school management committee (SMC) or local villager visits the school to enquire about the school’s arrangements, they should not be restricted. The revised August 20 order read, “If any parent, SMC member, local villager visits the school to enquire about the school’s arrangements, they should not be restricted, but care should also be taken to ensure that the teaching process is not affected, the privacy and safety of students, and the dignity of teachers are not compromised. His revised August 20 order says: “if a parent, SMC member, or local villager visits the school to enquire about the school’s arrangements, they should not be restricted.
His earlier order said teacher organisations complained at a review meeting that outsiders, including YouTubers, and others were unauthorisedly entering the district’s schools, taking photos and videos of the school and staff, and sharing them on social media, which disrupted teaching work.
