Bengaluru: In the current academic year, classes 1 to 10 will start at 9.30 am across the state. This move has brought in opposition from students, parents and teachers in many places. The school is starting about an hour earlier than the old schedule, and there is concern that the activities of the children will be hindered and there will also be safety issue.
The main reason for the opposition is that the DDPIs are insisting on following the advisory schedule given by the state Government without fail and implementing this advisory schedule without considering the local situation.
According to the new schedule, preparation period is scheduled from 9.30 am to 9.50 am and Ksheera Bhagya period is from 9.50 am to 10.00 am for class one to seven children. School activities are conducted in 8 sessions of 40 minutes each, including two short breaks of ten minutes, from 10:00 aM to 4:20 pm, including the midday hot meals session. Similarly, the Department of School Education has issued a schedule of 7 periods of 45 minutes each including a preparation period from 9.30 am to 10.00 am followed by two short breaks of 10 minutes each including a preparation period from 9.30 am to 10.00 am.
The Deputy Director of School Education Department (DDPI) of the respective District has the power to change the school opening and closing time according to the local situation. But the DDPIs of most of the districts are protesting against the implementation of this advisory schedule properly. In many districts including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Tumakuru, Vijayapura, Bidar, Bagalkote, Uttara Kannada, Dharawad, Chamarajanagara, teachers and parents expressed their opinion that the timetable should be changed.
Teachers in almost all districts have objected to the early start of schools. School start time should not be decided arbitrarily. Decisions should be made according to local situation. But it has come to our notice that DDPIs are putting pressure to follow the advisory schedule given by the Government. The General Secretary of the Primary School Teachers’ Association, Chandrashekhara Nuggali said that they will submit a request to the Education Department to allow the decision of the school timetable at the local level.