PANAJI
Lakhs of school going children may no longer have 'summer holidays' from as early as next year.
A proposal to commence the academic year in schools from April instead of traditionally from June is in an advanced stage of discussion among State level decision makers linked to the implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP), knowledgeable sources told The Goan.
"The State-level NEP committee has discussed it. There is still no unanimity but preparatory ground work to start the Academic year in April instead of June has begun," the source said.
The final decision on the matter, however, will have to be taken by the State government at the highest level with the buck stopping at the table of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio.
Goa Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBS&HSE), Bhagirath Shetye, confirmed that the proposal is on the table and that the Board is already prepared.
"This year the schedule is such that all examinations will be completed by April 1," Shetye said, adding that implementing an April start to the next academic year should not be a problem.
"Since it is a major policy change, the final decision on it is for the State government to take," Shetye added.
The logic behind the proposal, knowledgeable sources said, is to bring in uniformity and synch the academic calendar of schools in Goa with that followed by Central Education Boards -- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE).
Another factor favouring an April start to the academic year rather than the current June in Goa is the perennial disruptions in academics caused by the vagaries of the early monsoon.
Schools, practically every year in the recent past, have had to abruptly shut down and declare holidays for an indefinite number of days in June and July because of heavy rains, flooding and dangerous conditions for children to commute from their homes to schools daily in the morning.
Nonetheless, there are pitfalls too.
"In several regions in Goa it is extremely hot in April and May. Several schools have tin or metal sheets for roofs. It will be impossible for students to sit in classrooms beyond 11 am in these two months," said another top education official.
Director of Education, Shailesh Zingde, when contacted, declined to comment on the issue although he confirmed that discussion on the proposal is at an advanced stage in the Steering Committee for NEP implementation at school education.
Should the plans take concrete shape, school-going children and their families will forever have to forgo the traditional "summer holidays" and instead settle for vacations in the wet monsoon months.
