PANAJI
Taking cognisance of the sweltering heat in the face of delayed monsoon and demands from parents to give students a respite in deference to their health, the State government has asked schools to shut on Saturday.
Director of Education Shailesh Zingde has asked all aided and unaided primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in the State to close schools and declare holiday on Saturday, June 10 due to the "extreme heat".
However, there will be no change in the schedule of the June supplementary exams being conducted by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
"There will not be any change in the examination schedule on 10th June 2023. All the respective candidates shall reach their examination centre on 10/06/2023 as per the schedule," the Board's secretary, V B Naik said in a press note.
Meanwhile the DoE order declaring Saturday (June 10) a holiday for schools states: "Due to extreme heat and delay of the monsoons in the State it is decided by the competent authority to close down all the institutions on 10/6/2023 (Saturday)."
Zingde also said in the order that all heads of schools at primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary levels and also the special schools may "compensate" for the academic loss, if any, on account of Saturday's closure in future.
Earlier on Thursday, Zingde had said he would consult the government after demands to defer or curtail classes were made by multiple sets of parents from different parts of the State in view of the sweltering heat causing discomfort for students in classrooms.
The parents had sighted possible health issues and well-being of their children due to the extreme heat aggravated by the delay in arrival of the monsoon rains.
In Canacona and other rural regions which have also been facing acute water supply problems, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio, held consultations with officials of schools following which the government decided to shut schools on Saturday.
With Sunday a weekend holiday, the government may intervene on Monday too if rains don't arrive by then and extend the closure of schools depending on the climatic conditions then.
