The Punjab government’s Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) have triggered a political row, with Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of turning government schools into platforms for political publicity by allegedly asking teachers to record videos of mothers discussing its ‘Mukhyamantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana’.
“First place goes to Bhagwant Mann, who has turned Parent Teacher Meetings (PTMs) into marketing meetings for his ‘Mawan Dhiyan’ scheme!
Second place goes to Education Minister Harjot Bains, who ordered that mothers be called to schools and teachers be forced to record videos asking them, ‘What message do you have for the CM?'” Majithia further said.
Senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, alleging that the PTMs had been turned into marketing events for the government’s welfare scheme. “I urge the Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) as well as the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) to intervene urgently! This AAP advertising ‘homework’ given to teachers and parents needs to stop immediately!” the former Union Minister added. AAP leader and former Delhi Minister Manish Sisodia defended the PTMs and asked Congress why it failed to provide quality government education during its years in power. Why didn’t the Congress, which held power for decades, provide excellent government schools for every child? Why were parents forced to pay exorbitant fees to private schools for a good education?”
Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, “We @INCIndia condemn politicization of education in Punjab by @AamAadmiParty govt misusing school platforms for party propaganda. Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal attacked Punjab government and said that Punjab school teachers are “literally being used as personal pets”. Tagging handles of AAP Punjab, and Bhagwant Mann, she said the state government “has now directed school teachers to record video testimonials from parents about its welfare schemes during the statewide Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) that is happening right now! In a post addressed to Sachin Pilot, Sisodia said, “Sachin-ji (@SachinPilot)!
Amid the political slugfest, Punjab Health Minister, while responding to questions in Patiala, denied that the state government had issued any notice directing schools to record videos of parents during the PTMs. He accused the Opposition of deliberately raising the issue and said the government was using mass communication to inform people about welfare schemes and facilities so that eligible beneficiaries could benefit from them.
