Chennai: Schools can no longer hold assemblies in auditoriums or playgrounds for non-academic events organised by “outsiders” or those unauthorised by the school education department.They cannot host events celebrating leaders who are not notified by govt. These measures come in the wake of political party members visiting schools and interacting with students in some districts, and school heads in Karur playing chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s speech for children.The guidelines bar organisers of such events from distributing food or gifts to students, and meeting students during class hours. While the guidelines do not explicitly mention who an “outsider” is, officials from the department said any individual or organisation who is not directly connected to the department fits in the category.“The restriction mainly applies to political party persons and individuals who enter/exit schools and interact with students. This is just a refined version of guidelines issued in 2024, after a speech by a motivational speaker on persons with disabilities led to a controversy,” an official with the directorate of elementary schools said.Private schools, too, have to abide by the rule and must seek prior permission from the district educational office (private) schools before holding any such event.School education director S Kannappan said NGOs and other govt bodies will have to go through chief education officers before hosting events at schools. “If they were to make a donation and interact with students in schools outside of their district or in several schools at once, they have to apply through Namma School Namma Ooru Palli portal,” he said, warning that the school head would be punished in case of violation.
