Thin attendance in schools affects I-Day function preparations

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 5

Due to the Jammu bandh not only the selection of students of educational institutions for the march past in the upcoming Independence Day celebrations in Jammu did not take place, but also the preparation of cultural items by schools (both government and private) has been badly affected because of thin attendance of students.

The Tribune had earlier reported that due to the Jammu bandh call by the AIIMS Coordination Committee over setting up of premier medical institute in Jammu, Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) was not able to select students for the march past contingent for participation in the Independence Day celebrations at Mini Stadium, Parade, on August 15.

Sources said the educational institutions whose students are selected for participating in different cultural items start practice by July end and then participate in the dress rehearsal for the mega celebrations at the actual venue a few days before the event.

They added that the schools (government and private) whose students would be participate in cultural items during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, had already been selected, but due to poor attendance of students in the institutions it was not possible for the managements to start practice.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Jammu, JK Sudan said there was no official announcement of closure of schools during the Jammu bandh, but despite that there was a thin attendance of students in the schools.

“The attendance of students both in government and private schools during the Jammu bandh was so poor that it was not possible to select students for participation in different cultural events. For each cultural item, there is requirement of a number of students, but unfortunately the attendance in schools was very low,” the CEO said.

Not only schools, even colleges had faced similar situation. Prof Satinder Singh, Principal, GGM Science College and Nodal Principal of all city colleges, said, “The selection of NCC and NSS contingents for the Independence Day function has been delayed due to the bandh”.

“The students are not coming, but we hope that the situation gets normal and all colleges will start the process of selection so that they get adequate time for practice before participate in the Independence Day celebrations,” Prof Satinder Singh said.