Don't promote hatred towards other states, nations, schools told

The Associated Management of Primary & Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) has issued a circular asking member schools not to create an environment of hatred against neighbouring countries or states.

This circular follows the incident on Thursday, when members of Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) forced Delhi Public School (DPS) North in Bengaluru to cancel a cultural exchange activity to celebrate Chinese New Year.

The circular says that educational institutions should not promote hatred towards any country or state on impressionable children. Schools have the responsibility of imparting positive ideas such as trust and peace.

“If the state is having issues with neighbours such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, we cannot tell the students to start hating people from there. Teachers can have their personal opinions but we should not politicise education,” said Shashi Kumar D, general secretary of KAMS.

The association has also advised member schools against promoting campaigns such as boycotting Chinese goods. Teachers have been advised not to discuss anything negative related to neighbouring countries and states in the classroom or read such news in the school assembly. They have been asked to be alert about local activists promoting political agendas in school.

Schools have also been asked to exercise caution when conducting activities to avoid controversies. The association has condemned activists entering the school premises which are ‘sensitive zones’, and creating fear among students and parents.