Dr Yasir Ali
In recent years, a new trend has emerged across public institutions particularly in the education sector that reflects a concerning shift in priorities. What once may have been rare moments of respectful appreciation are now routine spectacles of garlanding, social media celebrations, and ceremonial farewells. This cultural shift is not only excessive but is increasingly becoming a drain on time, energy, and public resources.
Facebook and WhatsApp forums are frequently flooded with congratulatory messages whenever an officer joins a new department or is transferred to next place. Though intended as goodwill, these gestures often mask deeper motives ,some groups, under the guise of forums, use such occasions to curry favour with newly appointed officers. They present garlands and tokens of welcome not to celebrate merit or service, but to align themselves with the officer for personal gain. Transfer, after all, is not an award, it is an administrative process, an essential part of service life. Yet, the treatment it receives now rivals that of a major promotion.
What’s even more troubling is how these so‑called Forums formed based on their departmental engagement have evolved. Although they were ostensibly created to address collective employee issues or support systemic improvements, many of these groups have devolved into cliques with vested interests.” Instead of advocating for genuine educational reform, like improving school infrastructure, addressing pupil-teacher ratios, monitoring classroom teaching quality, or assisting in the implementation of government policies, they remain preoccupied with social events and ceremonial displays.
The farewell culture around retirements is another example of misplaced priorities. Especially In the education department, for instance, retirement invitations often begin few month in advance. Teachers and administrators spend precious school hours preparing for farewell events, diverting focus from the classroom. The energy, money, and time invested in these ceremonies could instead be channeled toward student learning, teacher support, or administrative improvements.
We must ask: at what cost are we continuing these performative traditions? While recognizing service and building community are important, they should not come at the expense of institutional efficiency or educational quality. Forums should return to their foundational purpose serving as collective voices for policy enhancement, employee welfare, and systemic reform. The focus must shift from garlands and group photos to goals and governance.
There are many employees, especially those with a genuine commitment to public service, who silently view the growing culture of garlanding, ceremonial welcomes, and farewell extravaganzas as a troubling syndrome that must be overthrown. They recognize that this performative culture often rewards sycophancy over sincerity and appearances over actual achievement. However, despite their personal reservations, these individuals find themselves caught in a powerful social drift that has, over time, normalized such practices across institutions. The system, as it stands today, often demands participation even if reluctantly , because non-participation can be misinterpreted as disrespect, non-cooperation, or being “anti-group.” This subtle but effective social pressure ensures that even those who oppose the culture find themselves involved, either directly or indirectly. Thus, the garlanding syndrome becomes self-perpetuating, no one truly believes in it, yet everyone plays along. In the process, it shifts focus away from meaningful institutional reforms and perpetuates a shallow sense of community that values optics over outcomes. Breaking this cycle will require more than just individual resistance, it will demand a collective rethinking of what respect, recognition, and professional solidarity should look like in a truly progressive public institution.
Respect is best shown not through ceremony, but through commitment to the job, to the institution, and to the larger public good.