Goa BJP govt perceives decades-old Students' Islamic Organisation's activities as anti-national
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The BJP government in Goa issued a direction to all educational institutions in the state to obtain prior written approval from the authority for any activities organised by external parties, after a District Magistrate's report showed suspicion over the ideological influence and activities of the Students' Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), a student organisation, like several others, that has been functioning in the country for more than four decades.
The directive, issued by the Directorate of Education on July 6, follows a communication from the Office of the District Magistrate, North Goa, which cited a report by the Superintendent of Police, Special Branch, Panaji.
The report alleged that SIO had been organising programmes in educational institutions across Goa and raised concerns that some of its activities were perceived to be potentially anti-social and anti-national, warranting greater vigilance to safeguard national security and communal harmony.
Referring to the Goa School Education Act, 1984, and the Goa School Education Rules, 1986, the Directorate stated that imparting communal knowledge or conducting activities unrelated to education within schools contravenes the provisions of the law.
To "safeguard the academic environment" and preserve the integrity of educational institutions, the Directorate has mandated that all requests for external engagements must include the credentials of the organisation, profiles of the speakers and a written draft or script of the proposed lecture or activity for prior scrutiny.
The circular further stipulates that every approved programme must be supervised by a responsible faculty member to ensure discussions remain within the prescribed curriculum, constitutional values and public order.
Following each event, heads of institutions have been instructed to submit a report to the Directorate detailing the programme, its key discussions and certifying that no objectionable or unauthorised content was presented.
Schools have also been directed to maintain a register of all external visitors and activities, while any suspicious attempts by unauthorised individuals or groups to engage with students must be immediately reported to local authorities and the Directorate for appropriate action.