The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to make roll call with “Jai Hind” compulsory for schoolchildren to instill patriotism in children.
State education minister Vijay Shah made an announcement to this effect while addressing NCC cadets from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on the NCC Day at the Shaurya Smarak in Bhopal on Sunday, The Indian Express first reported it.
He said a circular on the order will be issued on Monday in 1.22 lakh government schools. From October 1, Satna became the first district where this practice was introduced.
“Jai Hind is acceptable to students of all religions so I have decided to introduce it. We just want to keep our culture alive which our young generation is forgetting,” Shah had earlier.
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Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress president Kunal Chaudhary said instead of concentrating on what students should wear and chant, the government should improve the condition of schools and education system.
“We don’t have any problem with chanting Jai Hind but school education department’s main job is to provide quality education for better future of students and they have failed in their task,” said Chaudhary.
Shah’s statement comes amid allegations that the BJP-ruled state governments are trying to impose "forced patriotism" on school children.
Earlier too, Shah announced that life and teachings of BJP ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya would be taught to students to motivate them to do better in life. The minister’s diktat covers both government and private schools. New books on Upadhaya will be introduced in the syllabus for different classes.
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In March, the minister advised to hoist the national flag compulsorily at government schools. Subsequently, the education department issued fresh orders directing all schools, including CBSE affiliated schools, to hoist tricolour on their buildings daily.
On August 10, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had passed a notice to make singing Vande Matram compulsory in all schools it runs.
On July 25, the Madras High Court had ruled that Vande Mataram must be played in all schools, colleges and universities in Tamil Nadu at least once a week, preferably on Mondays or Fridays.
According to the 2014 Annual Status of Education Report (Aser), learning levels in rural MP are among India’s worst. Only 34% of all children surveyed in Class 5 in rural MP could read a Class 2 level text, the second lowest across all states–only behind Assam.
According to a study by the Child Rights and You (CRY), 94% schools in the state have “significant infrastructural gaps” in compliance of the Right to Education Act, 2009, even six years after the act was implemented, reported Hindustan Times.
