Team Herald
MARGAO: In a petition to the Directorate of Education, the Green Goa Foundation (GGF), a prominent environmental action group has urged the authorities to withdraw the proposed amendment and retain Rule 21 of the Goa School Education Rules, 1986, specifically sub-rule (2), clauses (iii) to (v), which advocate for the traditional June start of the academic year.
GGF emphasised the importance of allowing students and teachers sufficient time to refresh their minds and fully prepare for the new academic year.
GGF chairman Raison Almeida also raised concerns about the proposal to increase the number of classroom instructional days, stating that the current requirement of instructional hours is adequately met.
He warned that such an increase would burden both students and teachers, potentially leading to irreversible repercussions like mental stress and trauma.
GGF urged adherence to the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023 guidelines, which prescribe annual hours and recommend a balanced structure.
This includes 220 school days, with 180 instructional days, 20 days allocated for assessments and examinations, 20 days for extracurricular activities (including 10 “bag-less” days), and a daily instructional time of five-and-half hours to ensure a balanced, sustainable approach to education.
The petition also emphasised the primary objective of achieving equivalence among school boards. This goal, according to GGF, is not to enforce complete uniformity but to ensure that all students, regardless of their board affiliation, receive a standardised, comparable quality of education, with equal opportunities in terms of curriculum, assessments, and administrative practices.