President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Sunday condemned the incidents of ragging in educational institutions and asked teachers to help prevent the menace from taking place.
“It must be strongly condemned and should not take place in any institution of the country. You have a role in preventing it,” Mrs Patil said, at a event to give national awards to teachers on the occasion of Teacher’s Day. She stated that it was disturbing to see ragging continue in the country’s institutes of higher education. “I have often said this practice is not healthy, as it is a manifestation of intolerance on the part of senior students towards their juniors,” she said.
Mrs Patil said that the Right to Education Act has placed greater responsibility on all stakeholders. “The challenge before teachers is to ensure that children actively participate in school activities. Teachers, particularly in rural and distant areas, should hold classes regularly and ask students to attend school everyday,” she stated.
Speaking on the occasion, where several teachers were facilitated, Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal asked the state governments to prepare enforceable rules to ensure a rational and transparent system of postings and transfers in light of the implementation of the RTE Act.
“It should also be kept in mind that women teachers have demanding domestic responsibilities and their special circumstances should be given due consideration,” he said.