The Private Schools' Association said that the schools could showcase the event to the students by livestreaming it in every classroom.
A school in Karnataka. (iStock)
The Associated Managements of English Medium Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) issued an advisory, on Thursday, 18 January, stating that all private schools could livestream the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya — a Hindu religious ceremony — happening on 22 January.
The association, also known as the Private Schools’ Association, headquartered in Bengaluru, said that the schools could showcase the event to the students by livestreaming it in every classroom.
Ironically, it was in Karnataka that Muslim girl students were banned from classrooms in government schools for wearing a hijab over their uniforms. The previous BJP government had banned hijabs in classrooms, deeming it a religious attire, compelling students to approach courts.
The government’s argument was that schools were not the place to display religious symbols. Now, the private schools’ association has advised livestreaming of a Hindu religious event.
KAMS General Secretary D Shashi Kumar informed South First that it was a decision taken at one of the association’s meetings, when a group of members brought up the idea of declaring 22 January a holiday.
A few KAMS members, belonging to RSS-affiliated organisations and other pro-Hindu organisations, had put forth the idea that the association should declare 22 January a holiday for all private schools across the state.
However, the association decided against it for a reason.
Kumar said that many children often give events held during Independence Day or Republic Day a miss, undermining the importance of these days.
“Instead of taking part in the event, they plan other activities during these holidays. Hence, the decision not to declare 22 January a holiday was taken. Instead, schools can livestream the event if they wish to do so, keeping politics aside,” Kumar added.
“It is not compulsory for all schools to livestream the event, but if they wish to do so, the students would get an opportunity to witness the historic event,” Kumar stated.
“By livestreaming the event to all school students, they won’t miss out on this historic event, which happens only once,” the General Secretary told South First.
“Around 75 percent of the private schools in the state are equipped with smart classrooms and other hybrid classroom models, with overhead projectors and other technologies. Almost 100 percent of the schools are equipped with television sets and LED monitors, which they can use to livestream the event,” Kumar explained.
“Technology has advanced so much that what is played on a mobile phone can be projected on a screen,” he added.
“Besides livestreaming the event, private schools can also allow students to dress up as Rama, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman, like they do during Krishna Janmashtami festivities. Schools are also free to organise events related to the Ram Temple consecration,” he concluded.
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