Ahmedabad: Students of Gujarat schools will answer roll calls with 'Jai Hind' or 'Jai Bharat' instead of the current 'yes sir' and 'present sir' from January 1 in order to foster patriotism, a notification issued on Monday stated.
The notification, issued by the Directorate of Primary Education and Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), lays down that students of Class 1-12 in government, grant-in-aid and self-financed schools will have to respond to the attendance call with "Jai Hind" or "Jai Bharat," starting January 1.
The objective of the new practice is to "foster patriotism among students right from childhood," it said.
The decision was taken by the state Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama in a review meeting held Monday. He said, "What's wrong in it? We have decided on it and the order will be implemented from today."
The Opposition arguing the move said it will "not change the quality of education". The opposition Congress asked the government to instead improve the "deteriorating quality of education".
Criticising the state government, Gujarat Congress unit president Amit Chavda also said the new practice will not change the quality of education in state-run and affiliated schools.
Copies of the notification were sent to the district education officials with instructions to implement it from January 1.
Minister Chudasama could not be contacted for comment despite repeated attempts.
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