TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa government’s decision endorsing extension of school timings by 30 minutes constituting of a five and half hours day or full-day schooling of six hours for five days in a week, is finally out in print.
The circular issued by the Department of Education headed by Anil Powar indicated that there was no roll back of the government’s decision to increase school timings by 30 minutes which was implemented in June this year. However, relaxations have been made for primary schools/sections only.
Tuesday’s circular spelt out three solutions which Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had been hinting at during his meetings with parents and teachers last month.
The first gives primary schools the option of seeking exemptions from the Education Department for relaxation of extended school timings of 30 minutes only for academic year 2013-14.
The second option states that educational institutions which desire to switch over to full day schooling will be permitted to do so, to ensure 200 instructional days and minimum of five and half instructional hours per day.
And the third states that educational institutions can also run a full day school for five days of the week with a six-hour day, provided they fulfill 1,100 instructional hours for the academic year.
While the circular does not give a clear-cut deadline as to when educational institutions should apply for exemptions or seek approvals for starting full day school, the circular states that they should convey to the department their decisions immediately.
As soon as the circular was out on the department’s website, it evoked much anger and disgust from parents who have wards studying in the middle school and above and the teaching community.
Parents who were hoping for relief, described the circular as a betrayal by the government and total failure on its part to alleviate the problems being faced due to the extension of school timings by half an hour.
While the chief minister had met parents and parent teacher associations (PTAs) during July to hear their grievances on the issue, the circular gives relief only to primary schools who seek exemptions from implementing it during the ongoing academic year.
Dinar Barros, executive member of the PTA of Loyola High School, Margao was extremely disappointed. He said, “Probably the chief minister is working out solutions for the other section as today’s circular appears to be only primary-section specific.”
While the Goa Headmasters Association (GHA) did not wish to give a statement unless deliberated by the committee, the association is planning to meet the chief minister/education minister to discuss this issue in addition to other matters. Some have opined that students should not be punished, while trying to get teachers to spend more time with their school work at the school itself.
