PANAJI
The over 4,000 objections received by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to the start of the academic year in April were considered by the SCERT steering committee before finally deciding to begin schools on April 7, SCERT director Meghna Shetgaonkar said.
Addressing a press conference where Education Director Shailesh Zingade, Goa Board chairman, Bhagirath Shetye and other officials were present, Shetgaonkar said SCERT received about 3,000 objections on the last day, which were examined by the steering committee meeting held on Friday.
Zingade meanwhile said that Rule 21 of the Education Act was amended to implement the academic year from April but some went to court against the decision.
However, the court ruled in our favour saying, the decision was taken by amending Rule 21 as per the law, he added.
"On March 13, we issued a notification to solicit objections and received more than 4,000 objections. After the SCERT examined these 4,000 objections, we issued the revised notification on Friday," Zingade said.
According to the revised notification, the new academic year for classes 6 to 11 and 12 will start on April 7 instead of April 1. Also classes will be held till 11.30 am in April.
The entire month of May will be a vacation and schools will resume in June. For classes from first to fifth and the 11th, the academic year will start in June, Zingade said.
Zingade said in all about 4,047 objections were received of which 3,946 were by individuals and nine were filed by organisations.
"Besides, 89 parent-teacher associations and three politicians had also filed objections," Zingade said.
According to Shetgaonkar one of the most common issue raised in the objects was the summer heat and rising temperatures.
"CBSE and ICSE schools start the academic year in April. Remedial classes for the ninth grade are also held in April. We will finish classes by 11.30am to give the children relief from the summer heat," Shetgaonkar said.
The SCERT steering committee also decided that directions be issued to schools to shut down in case of heat waves and rise in temperatures, Shetgaonkar added.
There were also complaints about the lack of resources in schools but all schools have put their data on the education portal and uploaded information on facilities like drinking water facilities, separate toilets for girls and boys, fans in classrooms and such other complaints, Shetgaonkar added.
Shetgaonkar also said that the argument that very little consultation was held with stakeholders before the decision was taken, is incorrect.
"A team led by the Education Secretary has held consultations with managements, headmasters and teachers of schools in each taluka. We formed 20 committees with teachers and education experts on them,” Shetgaonkar said.
