04 September,2014 09:50 AM IST | | Shreya Bhandary
As schools prepare for Teachers' Day, managements are worried about the expenses they will have to incur to install television sets, and secure a cable connection for just one day
Narendra Modi
As schools prepare for Teachers' Day celebration this weekend, confusion still looms over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to students which, as per the HRD ministry, has to be relayed in all schools.
Most schools have expressed concerns about the expenses their respective managements will have to incur to relay PM's speech on Teachers' Day. File pic
With the state government not providing any clarity to the schools, most have started making arrangements, while expressing concerns about the expenses their respective managements will have to incur to do the needful.
A quick check by schools to find out the rates to set up a television set and secure a cable connection revealed that they may have to pay anywhere between Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000. "As per the government rule, one can't get a cable connection without a set-top box anymore. And since we can't get these boxes on rent, we will have to purchase them.
The entire process will cost us nothing less than Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000. Where do we raise this money from?" said Prashant Redij, principal of Hilda Castelino Marathi School in Kandivli.
He added that schools are still not sure whether the entire exercise is compulsory as mentioned by the state government in its circular, or an option as HRD minister Smriti Irani herself in a press conference. "If this is not a compulsory exercise, then we don't see the point in wasting money," Redij said.
Many schools have decided to wait till today afternoon to check whether the state issues a circular to clear the air over the issue. But, the schools are also worried about not being able to manage the entire event on Friday.
"The PM's address will begin after 3 pm and, by that time, most students go home. If we have to ask them to stay back, we'll have to make arrangements to settle down all students in the school at the same time. What about schools that operate in shifts due to space constraints? How will they accommodate everybody?" asked another principal.
While a few schools have already informed their students to be present for the PM's address, some have asked students to follow this exercise at their respective homes. "Our students have been informed to follow the PM's address at their homes, along with their parents.
This is the first time a PM has chosen to address the students as well as teachers, and it should not be missed. We will quiz the students on the entire speech on Saturday morning in school," said Fr Jude Fernandes, principal of Stanislaus High School in Bandra. He added that the school would also record the telecast and show it to students who missed it.
