Flag hoisting in schools to go online this year

Nagpur: With school buildings closed for students, this year’s Independence Day celebrations will shift online for a majority of them. School principals and a select few staff members will however be present in many schools for physical flag hoisting, a video of which will be shared with students.
Local education department, in a circular addressed to all schools, has made it clear that maximum five people can attend the ceremony on school campus. As per directives from deputy director of education Anil Pardhi, social distancing norms have to be followed throughout.
Dilip Bose, a state board school principal, said, “We have decided that though it is not possible for students to attend, they should not be deprived of the participation in flag hoisting ceremony. So a staff member will record video of the ceremony and share it with students on Whatsapp.”
Another state board principal Ashnarayan Tiwari said it would be a big disappointment for students this year. “Every flag hoisting ceremony was something students looked forward to. It was a celebration for everyone. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, there is no chance of that happening. We will put everything online on our school’s social media platform so that students can still feel part of the ceremony,” said Tiwari.
Many big schools have sent messages to their students asking them to join a ‘virtual’ ceremony in the morning. In some schools, attendance has been made mandatory.