Government diktat on holidays extension riles schools

Hyderabad: Corporate and private schools affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and the State boards are unhappy over the Education department's diktat not to resume classes even for the higher sections in view of extended holidays until October 19.

Irrespective of the holidays' extension GO issued a few days ago, CBSE schools including the top international schools in the State capital wanted to run classes for 9th to 12th classes for completion of syllabus on time. Even the private schools affiliated to the State board had the same plan.

With specific instructions coming from DEOs, school managements were forced to do a rethink on their plans to resume classes.

However, some schools are using this one-week time to hold parent-teacher meetings, assessment of reports with parents of students and children from primary and upper primary sections.

Extension of holidays is for students only but teachers in almost all private schools report to duties every day and some CBSE schools are texting parents of students from 10th and 12th classes to come on own transportation and clarify and discuss with teachers on academics and subjects.

In view of reports that some city schools have sent messages to parents asking them to bring their students for academics and related activities, School Education Commissioner held a meeting with the school association affiliated to the State, CBSE, ICSE boards on Monday.

They were told in no uncertain terms to drop their plans, if any, to run classes this week as the government is firm on its stand. Schools, if any, that resumed normal work from October 14 (Monday) were told to stop it right away and resume academic sessions only from October 21 onwards.

Leading academicians took strong exception to what they called "Zabardasti" on them to close schools. They argue that 99 per cent of students from CBSE schools don't commute by the State transport (RTC buses) and as such, they are not affected at all by the ongoing strike.

Hence, it was not proper to bar schools from resuming classes after Dasara vacation that already spread over two weeks. National Teacher Award winner and academician Seetha Kiran stated that CBSE board exams (for 10th and 12th classes) are likely to be advanced to mid-February from original March first week.

DAV schools have planned term exams from October 21 and this extension of holidays would be a disadvantage to students as they would have used this one week time in school to interact with teachers on academic subjects and clarify their doubts.

A former principal of a noted CBSE school and present academic consultant Anjali Razdan felt there would be pressure on teachers from high school sections to complete syllabus on time in wake of this unexpected one week extended closure of schools.

Normally the 12th class syllabus is completed by the end of December so that students will focus on practically in January.

Telangana Recognised School Managements Association honorary president Srinivas Reddy said that almost all private schools affiliated to the State board have dropped their plans to run classes for SSC students at least this one week in view of repeated instructions from the Education department.