"eklavyamp" eklavyamp@mantrafreenet.com

August 29, 2002
Protest Against the HSTP closure decision continues Last update that we had sent had informed you about the State Govt's decision to axe both HSTP and SSTP in the entire field area.

As informed earlier four members of State Advisory Board on Education (SABE) had written to the Chief Minister on July 23, 2002 and the CM had responded personally defending the decision. The four SABE members wrote to the CM again on 14th August challenging the assertions of the state government and asking that a meeting of SABE should be convened within two weeks. They haven't received any response yet. Profs. Romila Thapar, Mushirul Hasan, Gopal Guru and Krishna Kumar have indicated that the issue should be debated and resolved before the confusion over MP govt's move spreads any further.

In another move scientific fraternity has also reacted strongly to GoMP's move. A dozen most eminent scientists have signed a petition and will be sending it to CM and will also release it in the press in couple of days. We will release the text and list of signatories as soon as it is formally submitted.

We have also learnt that a number of sympathisers have approached the major funding agencies asking them to seek clarification from the GoMP about their stand vis-a-vis Civil Society institutions, especially in reference to the GoMP/Gopalakrishnan report.

A group of teachers, students and scientists is trying to get an appointment with the President to express their experiences of HSTP and distress at the decision of the state govt to close the programme. A number of educationists have also written to the president in this regard. The issue has been getting substantial media coverage in the national and regional dailies. We are attaching a list of articles published since February till mid-August. (If you know of any others do let us know).

News from the field:

The final closure order hasn't reached quite a few districts (school complexes) yet and schools in these areas are still continuing to use HSTP Balvaigyanik at the end of the second month of the session.
Even at places where the order has reached the teachers and parents are furious of a decision being taken at the end of two academic months and worried about their children's studies. Yet others are demanding that Rajya Shiksha Kendra (order issuing authority in this case) or MP Text Book Corporation should replace the books as most of the children have already purchased Bal Vaigyanik.
SCERT conducted a three-day training in Pachmarhi for about 15 Master trainers for Hoshangabad district between 2nd and 4th August. Immediately after, between 9th and 11th of August these master trainers conducted trainings at block level at all the eight blocks of Hoshangabad district. We have taken up an intensive contact programme with teachers and schools. Meetings with teachers are being organised on Sundays or other holidays and we are visiting schools to disseminate information and get their feedback on the new textbooks/methodology.

Training highlights:
Participants were given 15-20 minutes for giving a lecture on a selected chapter. When some participants enquired they were specifically told 'you are not expected to do experiments either in the training or in the classroom'.
No such exercise it being undertaken either for the entire Harda district or HSTP schools spread over 13 districts.

Action Plan:
1. Keep up the pressure on GOMP by protest letters and press statements, especially by eminent personalities.
2. Try to keep the issue alive in the media as well - thro' articles, letters to editors and news coverage.
3. Monitor the field situation especially in reference to the new textbooks and methodology.
4. Explore the option of a writ petition in the high court or Supreme Court. We might go in for two independent actions in this regard - one by parents and other by Eklavya and a few people from the science and education fraternity.
Need your participation and support in all these. Do send in your suggestions and also the specific points where you could help. Rajesh Khindri, Kamal Mahendroo, Tultul, KR Sharma, Shobha, & others For HSTP and Eklavya