Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 11: Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma today said it is not correct to convert school campuses into “political forums”.

“Teachers as per the High Court order are allowed to join politics but it is not correct to make or convert a school campus into a political forum,” Sangma told reporters.

He was referring to political party songs being played in the campuses of the various educational institutions in the State.

The Director of School Education & Literacy Swapnil Tembe had on September 8, issued a show cause notice to the principal of the Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Jowai for allowing students to play a political party song during the Teacher’s Day celebration at the school.

Sangma said students in many of the institutions out of enjoyment play such political party songs “but it doesn’t feel good as a school campus and that school has a certain limit”.

“Today you may play and use some political party song, tomorrow some other song and the day after tomorrow, it will be some other political party songs then in the process the whole campus will be converted into a political forum,” he added.

In order to avoid complications due to the matter, the education minister said, “I would like to appeal and request the school administration and students to refrain from using political party songs and materials as if not used in the school campus is best for the school administration.”

Further, Sangma informed that the department will issue some circulars to heads of all institutions to ensure such incidents do not happen in the future.

“We have different music and songs which are good for dancing and enjoyment. We have songs for patriotism, many songs but I request students across the state not to use any political song,” he said.