PANAJI
The forecast that a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic could hit the country soon and warning from experts that the dreaded virus could potentially target children has jeopardised the planned June 21 commencement of the new academic year for Goa's schools.
Decision makers in the Education department's hierarchy are in a quandary on finalising the module to be adopted for commencement of classes -- online or offline.
The department had already notified that the ensuing scholastic year in Goa's schools will commence from June 21.
However, with the devastating second wave of infections still ravaging the State and predictions of a next wave with children being vulnerable will in all likelihood derail the June 21 kick-off plans.
A top education department official said a firm proposal with details of how to commence the new scholastic year is in the process of being finalised and will be presented to the State government.
"It is for the government to take the final call taking into account the overall Covid-19 scenario across the State and the opinion of medical experts," the official told The Goan.
Interestingly, the final decision on the conduct of the current year's SSC and HSSC examinations -- crucial milestones in a child's academic career -- is yet to be made public either by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBS&HSE) or the government.
These crucial public exams had earlier been scheduled in April-May but were indefinitely postponed in the wake of the surge in new Covid-19 cases since mid-April.
Although other Central Boards including ICSE and CBSE have announced cancellation of exams, the GBS&HSE has not officially announced its decision although speculative media reports have said that the Board's internal decision-making hierarchy has already taken the call to cancel them and adopt an alternative evaluation module.
Tinkered due to the Covid-19 pandemic impact on schedules of the current year, the first term of the 2021-22 academic year was notified to begin on June 21 and end on October 26. The second term was to commence on November 17 and end on April 30, according to the notification.
The mid-term vacation for Diwali is from October 27 to November 16, 2021.
During the first term, the Ganesh Chaturthi vacation is notified between Sept 9 to 15.
In the second term, a week-long Christmas break is notified between December 24, 2021 to January 1, 2022.
Over 90 per-cent of academic work in the current year was carried out off-campus in the online mode across schools in Goa and may have to be followed in the ensuing year as well, if current trends of the Covid-19 situation persist.
