Apology by Headmasters Association for offensive passage

Ratnagiri: In Sangameshvar taluka in the second terminal examination for 2006-2007 the paper set by the Headmasters Association for class IX in Marathi (language) an attempt was made by the paper setter to support the Blind Faith Eradication Bill and the Temple Takeover Bill through a comprehensive passage which was followed by a number of questions on it. The BJP and HJS objected to this because of which the Headmasters Association was compelled to apologise for the mistake committed by the education department official of the Secondary School to the Education Secretary. A copy of the apology was also forwarded to the BJP Sangameshvar taluka Secretary, Shri. Nibandha Kanitkar and the HJS.

Shri. Kanitkar, the group leader of the Zilla Parishad, Shri. Prashant  Shirgaonkar and the Zilla Parishad  member of Dabhol Smt.Rajani Chingale met the Zilla Parishad Finance and Education Secretary Shri. Tukaram Golmad and the Secondary School Education Officer Shri. Hulvan and demanded that immediate action be taken against the erring paper setter.

Dr. Vinay Natu a member of Legislative Assembly to the Guhagar constituency also condemned this inflammatory passage from the class IX paper and threatened to complain about it to the State Education Minister.

Reaction of the HJS

The HJS submitted a memorandum to the Chief Officer of the Zilla Parishad requesting the local MLA and government for a departmental inquiry in this regard and demanded that strict action be taken against the erring official. Copies of this were sent to the Chief Minister, Education Minister of the State, Collector, President and Vice-President of the Zilla Parishad, Education Secretary and the Secondary School Officer. It will also be given to the Block Development Officer of the Sangameshvar Panchayat Samiti. This task was carried out by Dr.Mandar Bhide, Shri. Bhaskar Jhore, Shri. Hanumant Karambelkar, Shri. Anil Jathar and Shri. Sanjay Joshi of the HJS. They warned Shri. Hulvan that if appropriate action was not taken then they would not hesitate to strengthen their agitation.

The Education Secretary orders a departmental inquiry into the incident

President of the Zilla Parishad Shri. Shantaram Jadhav assured that he would probe into the matter while the Finance and Education Secretary Shri. Golmade informed that he had ordered a departmental inquiry into it. Members of the Headmasters Association of Sangameshvar have also promised to make the teacher who committed this error tender an apology.

Source: Daily Sanatan Prabhat