Goa, July 17 -- The Goa Directorate of Education (DoE) has withdrawn its controversial circulars regulating external interactions in schools, reversing the policy with immediate effect following widespread criticism from educators, political leaders and other stakeholders.

An order issued on July 17 by Director of Education Shailesh R. Sinai Zingde revoked two circulars released earlier this month. The withdrawn directives had required schools to obtain prior written approval from the Education Department before allowing external experts, organisations or NGOs to conduct programmes on campus. Institutions were also instructed to submit scripts and other programme details for official scrutiny before receiving permission.

The circulars s...