UP School Row: Amid ‘School Thik Karo’ Campaign, Yogi Orders FIRs Over Misleading Videos

Days after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath responded to the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) ‘School Theek Karo’ initiative, he has directed officials to register FIRs against individuals spreading misinformation about schools and colleges through misleading videos.

In a video of a public address posted on his YouTube account, Adityanath had indirectly invited the CJP to film videos in the state’s schools. His remarks came after the CJP appealed to people to record videos in government schools across India and document deficiencies they found.

“Today, they are saying they will make videos of the schools. By all means, go ahead and do it,” Adityanath said.

He had also highlighted the achievements of his government under Operation Kayakalp, including separate toilets for boys and girls, drinking water facilities, smart classrooms and furniture.

However, during a meeting with senior state government officials and those posted in the field on Saturday, Adityanath directed officials to register FIRs against those spreading misinformation through misleading videos, Hindustan Times reported.

He also ordered officials to immediately investigate the condition of mid-day meals and toilets for boys and girls on the spot. The chief minister said students must receive better facilities and an improved educational environment, while instructing district magistrates to regularly inspect schools.

School Thik Karo Campaign

The developments come amid the Cockroach Janata Party’s nationwide #SchoolThikKaro campaign on social media, which calls on people to record videos of government schools and highlight deficiencies in infrastructure and facilities.

The campaign coincided with student protests over poor school facilities in different parts of Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks.

Why Were Outsiders Barred From Schools?

District education officers had recently barred outsiders, including YouTubers, from entering government-run primary and upper primary schools across Uttar Pradesh to ensure the smooth functioning of teaching and learning activities.

The move followed a series of viral videos showing poor-quality mid-day meals being served to students in some government schools.

The basic shiksha adhikaris (BSAs) later amended their earlier orders. Revised circulars directed schools to allow parents and school management committee members to visit schools and enquire about institutional details and the progress of their wards.

What Did Chief Secretary Direct?

Chief Secretary S P Goyal issued a letter on Wednesday directing divisional commissioners and district magistrates to ensure better infrastructure, cleanliness and educational facilities in government schools, while maintaining regular communication with students and parents.

In view of waterlogging and cleanliness issues during the rainy season, Goyal directed officials to conduct special cleanliness drives on school campuses.

He also ordered officials to ensure water availability in toilets, regular teaching, functional kitchen sheds and electrical equipment.

Officials were directed to coordinate with other departments to improve road connectivity to schools, provide drainage and ensure the safe shifting of high-tension and low-tension electrical lines passing over school buildings.

Goyal asked officials to implement and monitor measures covering basic and secondary education institutions across the state.

These include clean drinking water, separate toilets for boys and girls, hand-washing facilities, functional electricity connections and equipment, kitchen sheds, boundary walls and mid-day meal kitchens.

Under the PM Poshan scheme, officials were asked to ensure that students receive quality meals regularly.

Goyal also directed officials to promptly verify complaints received through social media and take action against accounts spreading misleading information.

Opposition Launches Video Campaign

Amid the developments, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh launched a campaign on social media highlighting the condition of government schools in Uttar Pradesh.

In a series of posts on X, Singh claimed that the ongoing ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign had exposed the condition of government schools in Ayodhya district.

He appealed to people in Uttar Pradesh to record videos showing the condition of government schools near them and send them to a given phone number.

In another post, Singh shared a purported photograph of a primary school in Sonupara Jaisinghpur, Sultanpur. He claimed AAP workers had visited the school and highlighted shortcomings in the education system.