Anthem row: Top schools claim charges by Minister Nagesh unfair

Rithu Dravid | NT

 Move by the state government to take action against some schools in the city following complaints that they were not making students sing the National Anthem, has not gone down well with the schools, which have denied the allegation.

 Primary education Minister B C Nagesh had ordered 'necessary action' against St Joseph’s Boys’ School, Bishop Cotton Boys’ High School and Baldwin Girls’ High School. Reacting to this, St Joseph’s Principal, Fr Fernandes told News Trail, “During the field assembly, the students sing the National Anthem and on certain days the recorded version of the Anthem is played from the principal’s office and students sing from their classrooms. Officials from the education department have inspected the school and seen the children sing the Anthem. Every event in our school concludes with the singing of the Anthem. The State Anthem is also sung every Friday in the field assembly”.

Officials from the DDPI office had submitted a report claiming schools weren’t making students sing the Anthem. According to the Ministry Of Home Affairs, schools must instil 'nationalism in students by making them sing the Anthem. “We sing the Anthem daily. It is unfortunate to find fingers being pointed at us,'' added Dr Asha Margaret Das, Principal, Baldwin Girls’ High School