SHILLONG: A school in Jowai, Jaintia Hills, has come under scrutiny from the Director of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) for featuring a song linked to a political party during its recent Teachers’ Day festivities.
The Government Girls Higher Secondary School in the town has been served a show cause notice by the department for playing a song used in poll campaigning of Voice of the People’s Party (VPP), a political party in Meghalaya.
The notice, addressed to the principal of the school, cited the school’s decision to permit the playing of a song as a breach of government conduct rules.
The DSEL’s show-cause notice stated, “…on the day of celebration of Teachers’ Day at your school, you as the Principal of Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Jowai, had wilfully allowed your students to play a song which belongs to a particular political party, which is against the government conduct rules.”
Furthermore, the notice directed the principal to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for this act of negligence.
The controversial song in question is the popular election anthem titled ‘Ha U Prah,’ associated with the political party VPP. Originally composed for political campaigns, the song has garnered attention beyond politics and is now commonly played at various social gatherings, including weddings and picnics in the state.
