Allahabad school principal, 8 teachers quit after ‘ban’ on national anthem

The principal and eight teachers of a school in Allahabad have decided not to report for duty from Saturday in protest against a ‘ban’ by the school manager on singing the national anthem and national song in the morning assembly.

The principal and eight teachers of a school in Allahabad have decided not to report for duty from Saturday in protest against a ‘ban’ by the school manager on singing the national anthem and national song in the morning assembly.

The manager of the school allegedly also banned patriotic slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. His instructions were verbal. (AFP file)

The manager allegedly also banned patriotic slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. His instructions were verbal.

Principal Ritu Shukla told Hindustan Times over phone on Friday night that she and eight other teachers told the manager that they would not be coming to school from Saturday because of the ban.

Neither Shukla nor any of the other eight teachers put their protest in writing.

“If we do not teach our children our national anthem and national song or other patriotic songs, what are we giving them? I have been serving the institution as a principal for past one year and have not been able to adjust with what the school manager has instructed. Not allowing singing of national anthem or national song is unjust,”,” she said.

The school, M A Convent, is a private institution with classes from nursery to eighth. The school has around 330 students.

Zia-ul-Haq, the manager of the school acknowledged that the principal and eight teachers had told him that they would not come to school from Saturday but refused to share the exact reason for their decision.

“I do not want to discuss such things over phone. It is a sensitive issue and I will discuss it only face to face,” he said.

District magistrate Sanjay Kumar said he would get the matter probed.