Panaji: Schools across Goa reopened for Classes VI to X and XII on April 7 under the new academic calendar, marking a major shift in the State’s education system. The academic year will now begin on April 7 with a one-week break between the old and new academic years. The students will also get a summer break in May, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
However, as students returned to classrooms, a group of concerned parents staged a silent protest outside the Directorate of Education, criticising the NEP rollout as “rushed” and “poorly planned.” They alleged that the government had failed to conduct adequate consultations or prepare schools for the transition.
“We are not against the NEP or the Learning Enhancement Programme,” said one protesting parent. “But there has been no dialogue, no stakeholder meetings. A top-down rollout like this affects thousands of students and teachers.”
They also highlighted that the Headmasters’ Association, representing around 390 schools and over 7,000 teachers, had raised similar objections, none of which were addressed.
Critics of the calendar change argue that the NEP does not mandate a shift in academic timelines and accused the government of misinterpreting the policy.
Curriculum concerns also emerged, with many parents stating that the new Class VI Hindi textbooks are pitched at a Class IX level. “It is too much pressure, too fast. The content does not match the age group,” another parent said.
