MUMBAI:
Over a million Kendriya Vidyalaya students across the country could
soon enjoy an extended weekend as authorities are mulling over cutting
their working days and making schooling a five-day affair.
This is aimed at allowing
students to "pursue self-learning" and follow their passion and indulge
in non-academic activities. In a meeting last week, Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan heads felt that five-day week would give "space" to children
who, for years, merely get an off on Sundays besides the second Saturday
of the month. "Keeping them bound to the school routine six days a week
is detrimental to their natural growth of talent in various fields,"
noted the minutes of the meeting (a copy is with TOI) that took place on
Thursday.
The KVs outside India, in Iran,
Moscow and Khatmandu, work for five days. "While the Western system of
education is quoted and applauded in ways, the important aspect of
giving autonomy to students to pursue their hobbies and interests away
from the Vidyalaya binding is overlooked," noted All India Kendriya
Vidyalaya Teachers' Association president A S Mazumdar. He added that
there are several institutions that follow a five-day-week time table.
Most teachers acknowledged that such an arrangement would also reduce their work stress.
"It is possible for schools to
follow a five-day week and maintain academic rigour too. We have always
followed such a work schedule and there has been no problem that we have
faced. We do work more on a case-to-case basis when someone needs more
attention," said Mumbai's Podar School principal Avnita Bir.
But Bir pointed out that under
their job profile, the KVS staff has a lot of paperwork to do and she
was not sure how teachers would manage that.
When the recommendation was
discussed with some officials, they initially shot it down and said that
the proposal was not sounding feasible and that working hours for
teachers as stipulated under the Right to Education Act had to be
adhered to. But while the KV students have a heavier week academically
than their counterparts in most other schools, teachers feel they too
work more than their peers in other institutes.
After the implementation of the
RTE, working hours for teachers have been raised from six hours to
seven- and-a-half hours, a matter that is before the court.
Private CBSE schools too follow a
five-day work schedule. When Mazumdar raised that point, officials
hinted at considering the five-day week and that the teachers'
association would have to submit a list of schools that have the weekend
off. Till such a standoff between the government and the Sangathan,
there will be just one day a week for some fun for lakhs of children.
Times View
Giving school children an extra
day off in the week can indeed help in reducing their stress levels.
However, if that is to work, both teachers and parents must bear in mind
the purpose of the long weekend. If the school uses it to give a double
dose of homework to the children, it would be defeating the purpose.
Equally, if parents see it as an opportunity to squeeze in some more
tuitions or extra hours of study on Saturday, the measure is doomed to
fail. Ultimately reducing stress on kids requires a change in mindsets.
Logistical measures like an extra day off or lighter schoolbags can help
only if accompanied by that change.
Source : The Times of India, August 29, 2012
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