Panaji: The directorate of education (DoE) on Friday withdrew a controversial circular that had mandated prior written approval from the department before schools could invite any external speaker, activist or organisation to their campuses. The withdrawal, issued under a fresh circular, revoked two earlier directives issued last week “with immediate effect,” stating that all instructions contained therein “shall cease to have effect”.The move follows sustained pushback from the opposition, which had termed the circular an act of censorship and demanded its rollback, as well as a direct intervention by the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India, Goa zone.A team of SIO Goa, led by secretary Shaikh Aftab Hussain, met the education director earlier in the day to formally object to the original circular, which had described the organisation as “perceived to be potentially anti-social and anti-national in nature”. The directorate subsequently withdrew both circulars, and SIO Goa said it had received the official orders.While welcoming the withdrawal, SIO Goa said it does not erase the reputational damage caused by what it called “baseless and defamatory allegations” made without prior notice or opportunity to respond. The circular was originally addressed to heads of all govt, aided, unaided and special schools across the state.
