TNN | Oct 26, 2013, 01.06 AM IST
HYDERABAD: In order to make up for the disruption in the academic schedule caused by teachers participation in the Samaikyandhra agitation, the education department has cancelled Sankranti and Christmas holidays for students of the Seemandhra region.
According to the latest circular, classes will also be held on Republic Day next year besides Sundays and second Saturdays as well. The circular was issued to the Regional Joint Director of School Education, Kakinada, Guntur and Kadapa.
The decision to conduct classes on all holidays was taken as teachers agreed to compensate for the lost working days after the Samaikya Andhra Upadhyaya Porata Samithi called off the strike on October 10.
Students will now have to go to school to even off the loss of 33 working days. The circular stated that quarterly examinations will be conducted from December 1 to 6 while half-yearly examinations will be held from January 7 to 12, 2014.
"The headmasters and teachers should attend schools on the compensatory working days. Any slackness on the part of the teachers and any deviation from rules will be viewed seriously. Disciplinary action will be initiated against such teachers," the circular signed by G Vani Mohan, Commissioner and Director of School Education said.
School inspectors will visit the schools on all the compensatory working days to ensure proper completion of the syllabus and report back to the District Educational Officer on a regular basis, the circular said.
However, child rights groups in the city said the government should not cancel all holidays. "Students are entitled to have some leisure time as well. The government cannot conduct classes on Republic Day as it goes against the constitution of the country," said Achyuta Rao, president, AP Balala Hakkula Sangham, a child rights NGO. Government should instead reduce the syllabus to be covered, he added.
Teachers working in Andhra and Rayalaseema areas were on strike against the proposed bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh from August 22 to October 10.
HYDERABAD: In order to make up for the disruption in the academic schedule caused by teachers participation in the Samaikyandhra agitation, the education department has cancelled Sankranti and Christmas holidays for students of the Seemandhra region.
According to the latest circular, classes will also be held on Republic Day next year besides Sundays and second Saturdays as well. The circular was issued to the Regional Joint Director of School Education, Kakinada, Guntur and Kadapa.
The decision to conduct classes on all holidays was taken as teachers agreed to compensate for the lost working days after the Samaikya Andhra Upadhyaya Porata Samithi called off the strike on October 10.
Students will now have to go to school to even off the loss of 33 working days. The circular stated that quarterly examinations will be conducted from December 1 to 6 while half-yearly examinations will be held from January 7 to 12, 2014.
"The headmasters and teachers should attend schools on the compensatory working days. Any slackness on the part of the teachers and any deviation from rules will be viewed seriously. Disciplinary action will be initiated against such teachers," the circular signed by G Vani Mohan, Commissioner and Director of School Education said.
School inspectors will visit the schools on all the compensatory working days to ensure proper completion of the syllabus and report back to the District Educational Officer on a regular basis, the circular said.
However, child rights groups in the city said the government should not cancel all holidays. "Students are entitled to have some leisure time as well. The government cannot conduct classes on Republic Day as it goes against the constitution of the country," said Achyuta Rao, president, AP Balala Hakkula Sangham, a child rights NGO. Government should instead reduce the syllabus to be covered, he added.
Teachers working in Andhra and Rayalaseema areas were on strike against the proposed bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh from August 22 to October 10.
Source: The Times of India
