Memorandum seeks to defer change implemented as per NEP
Cecille Rodrigues addresses media persons outside the office of the State Council of Educational Research and Training in Porvorim.
Photo Credits: Anil Shankhwalker
PORVORIM
Representatives of parents-teachers associations of different schools across the State on Monday called on the Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), to revoke the circular to start the academic year in April and to retain June as the traditional start of the academic year.
The memorandum, which was submitted to SCERT Director Meghna Shetgaonkar, also raised the issue of textbooks.
Later while briefing media persons on behalf of the parents, Cecille Rodrigues said Shetgaonkar had told them that their request to start schools in June instead of April would be placed in the meeting of the committee which would be called shortly and an appropriate decision would be taken in the matter.
“In regard to the Std 9 exam, it will be a preparatory exam for students. The exam papers will be set by the Board but will be corrected by the respective class teachers of the schools. Hence, the main exams of the Board will continue to be Std 10 and Std 12,” said Rodrigues.
“The issue of additional languages for Std 6 onwards also has been clarified by the SCERT director. The PTAs and parents are not against the New Education Policy (NEP) but they are concerned about its implementation.”
SCERT Director Meghna Shetgaonkar mentioned that they have started receiving textbooks from Stds 4 to 8, which are being distributed free to students.
“The distribution has started in Bicholim taluka. In Bicholim, a centre has been set up from where the schools from that taluka will collect the books,” said Shetgaonkar.
“Similarly, such centres will be set up in other talukas also and schools will be directed to collect their books from those centres. We have collected the data regarding the requirement of books in their schools and accordingly have placed the print order.”
Regarding the timing of schools in April, Shetgaonkar said the schools will operate till 11.30 am considering the humid climatic conditions.
“We are very sensitive to the needs of students. In the past too, whenever there had been heavy rainfall, we had offered the liberty to schools to leave students early,” said Shetgaonkar.
A memorandum to revoke the circular to start the academic year in April and to retain June as the traditional start of the academic year had also been submitted to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Director of Education Shailesh Zingade a few days earlier.
