PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday announced that the new Academic Year 2025-26 will commence as per the schedule announced in April.
Speaking to media persons, Sawant said “the academic year will start as per the schedule declared by the Education Department”.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa is currently hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the parents challenging the start of the academic year in April, instead of June. The Court has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Education and the State government. The matter is listed for hearing on March 24.
The State government has formulated draft Rules under Goa School Education Act, 1984 as per which the academic year for Class VI to X and Class XII will commence from April and end in March, while for the students of Class I to V and Class XI, the term will start from June and end in April.
It also said that there shall be a break of one week between the end of the academic year and the beginning of the new academic year. As per which, the classes will commence from April 7, instead of earlier date of April 1.
The draft has been kept open for public suggestions and comments for a period of ten days.
While several school heads, teachers, parents have welcomed the move to conduct the academic term from April to March, quite a number of schools and PTAs have raised their objections citing several concerns including weather, infrastructure, etc.