Karnataka govt makes singing national anthem mandatory in all schools

The government has received complaints that the national anthem was being skipped by few schools in Bengaluru during their morning congregations.

The Karnataka government has issued an order making it mandatory to sing the national anthem at all government and private schools as well as pre-university colleges in the state.

According to a report, three schools in Bengaluru are already on the radar of Karnataka government for allegedly skipping the practice of skipping the national anthem. 

The Basavaraj Bommai-led government released a statement to all educational institutions on Wednesday after it reportedly received complaints that the national anthem was being skipped during morning assemblies in some schools.

The order said deputy directors of the department of public instruction, Bengaluru, have visited a few schools in the city and observed that they are skipping the national anthem in their morning assembly.

The order also quoted Section 7(2) (g) (I) of Karnataka Education Act, 1983, which said “it is necessary to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem”.

If there is no space in educational institutions for the morning congregation, they are ordered to make students sing the national anthem in the classroom itself and not to skip the practice on any working day.

According to the publication, St Joseph’s Boys’ High School, Bishop Cotton Boys’ High School and Baldwin Girls’ High School in Bengaluru are under the radar of the Karnataka government.