times news networkPanaji: The directorate of education (DoE) has issued a circular to schools stating that all external individuals or organisations holding programmes inside schools for students will now undergo scrutiny first. The directorate has said that their profile and draft of the lecture to be delivered will undergo pre-event clearance to ensure that no “communal knowledge” is imparted to students or no “non-educational activities” are conducted.Post the event, too, the school head will have to submit a certification that no objectionable content was delivered to students, states the circular.“After completion of the programme, the head of the institution shall submit a brief report to the directorate including the nature of the programme conducted, key points discussed, and certification that no objectionable or unauthorised content was imparted. All schools shall maintain a proper register of external visitors and activities conducted on their premises, along with supporting documents of approvals obtained,” the DoE has said.The circular has been issued “to safeguard the academic environment and maintain the integrity of education institutions”, said the directorate.“No external individual, organisation, or group shall be permitted to conduct any seminar, lecture, awareness programme, or interaction with students without obtaining prior written approval from the competent authority. Any request for such approval must be accompanied by complete details including credentials of the organisation, names and profiles of speakers, a written draft/script of the proposed lecture or activity,” the circular reads.This is to enable proper scrutiny of the content and intent prior to granting permission, DoE has said. The circular has been issued “in the interest of maintaining a safe, neutral, and academically focused environment in all educational institutions”, states the circular.In all approved cases, a responsible faculty member shall be mandatorily present throughout the session to supervise proceedings and ensure that the content remains “within the bounds of the prescribed curriculum, constitutional values, and public order,” the directorate has said.Any suspicious activity or attempt by unauthorised individuals or groups to engage with students should be reported immediately to the authorities for necessary action, DoE has told schools.It has also asked zonal officers of the directorate to conduct periodic inspections to verify compliance.“Heads of institutions in the state are hereby directed to ensure strict adherence to the guidelines. Any deviation shall be viewed seriously and may invite appropriate disciplinary action,” the DoE has said.
