UP school bans national anthem, teachers quit

Allahabad: A school here has refused to allow recital of the national anthem by students and staff members on Independence Day, claiming that its words violated the tenets of Islam, following which eight teachers, including the principal, have quit in protest against the diktat.

Authorities said that a probe has been launched against M A Convent School based in Baghara locality of the city in the matter and maintained that it was not recognised by the education department.

Zia-ul Haq, the school manager, told the teachers that singing of the national anthem could not be allowed as the phrase ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ in its first stanza went against the tenets of Islam, according to the teachers who resigned two days ago. The manager said if they were not in agreement with this “policy” of the school, they could leave.

“Most of us have been working here for not a very long time. We were shocked to learn from the management that the school has never allowed the singing of national anthem in the last 12 years. “Since we had been asked to fall in line or leave, we chose a decision based on our conscience,” Ritu Tripathi, who was the principal, said. The school has around 300 students.