Vijai Sardesai calls withdrawal of Education Dept circular a 'victory for students'

Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai described the Directorate of Education's decision to withdraw its circular (regulating external interactions in educational institutions) as a "victory for students and the voice of Goa." 

He alleged the circular sought to censor educational institutions and said the government was forced to withdraw it after people stood together against what he termed arbitrary restrictions. Sardesai also said classrooms must remain spaces for free inquiry.

The Directorate of Education withdrew with immediate effect its circulars, dated July 6 and July 9, 2026, that required schools to obtain prior approval for seminars, lectures and awareness programmes by external individuals or organisations, submit speaker details, maintain records, supervise sessions and report suspicious activities. The department said all instructions contained in the withdrawn circulars will cease to have effect from the date of issuance of the latest order.