Now, secondary schools get timings exemption (Herald)

Now, secondary schools get timings exemption August 10, 2013 Addendum issued granting relaxations on half-hour time extension TEAM HERALD PANJIM: The Goa government which had virtually bent backwards on implementation of extended school timings, is now granting relaxations to secondary schools as well, in case they have reservations about implementing the half-hour time extension for the academic year 2013-14. The government had already issued a circular on August 6, stating that it had only granted relaxations to primary schools stating that they could seek exemptions from implementing the circular issued in June, which increased school timings by 30 minutes. The circular issued earlier this week had not included secondary schools for grant of exemptions. However on August 7, 2013, an addendum has been issued now including secondary schools to avail the benefit of exemptions in the same manner as primary schools. As per the addendum, secondary schools which wish to seek exemptions will have to apply to the Department of Education immediately for the same. Through this exercise, primary and secondary schools (from class I to X) can now opt for exemptions from implementing the 30 minute extended school timings for the current academic year, while options of implementing full day schooling of five and a half hours or full day schooling of six hours, with a five day week has been offered as an option for educational institutions. No further changes have been made to the circular issued by the Education Department on August 6 indicating that the government has still keep options open for implementation of extended school timings by five and a half hours to ensure 200 instructional days or full day schooling of six hours with a break on Saturday and Sunday provided, the educational institutions complete 1100 instructional hours for the academic year. “So far we have not yet received any intimation from any primary school or secondary school seeking for relaxations in the implementation of the extended school timings nor have we received any communique from any institution opting for full day schooling after we issued the circulars,” said Director of Education Anil Powar. The addendum comes at a time when the All Goa Secondary School Teachers Association has been gearing up for a show down with the government for discriminating against secondary schools in granting relaxation in the implementation of the extended school timing. A series of meetings have been scheduled by AGSSTA in various talukas of Goa starting in Salcete next week. No executive member of AGSSTA was available for reactions to the government’s latest circular of August 7 which also offers exemptions for secondary schools. A series of meetings have been scheduled by AGSSTA in various talukas of Goa starting in Salcete next week. When contacted by Herald, the AGSSTA continues to maintain the view that there is no solution to the problem. Dattatraya Nayak, heading the AGSSTA said, “The June circular created confusion, August 6th circular created further confusion and the August 7th circular has worsened the situation. It creates more disparity, more discrepencies and only targets teachers at the end of the day.” Nayak said that AGSSTA demands an increase in timings for the directorate of education by half an hour as well. He pointed out that option one does not help teachers, option two also has no benefits and option will not work for city based schools especially those having two shifts. In the meantime, Dinar L Barros, PTA executive member of Loyola High School who spearheaded the movement against extension of school timings said, “With the release of the long awaited amended circular, Manohar Parrikar has wiped away the tears of the 'silenced' school children. He invigorated democracy by taking the teachers and the parents, the major stakeholders, into confidence. And he also went a step ahead by giving a choice of timings to choose from.” Primary and secondary schools (from class I to X) can now opt for exemptions from implementing the 30 minute extended school timings for the current academic year, while options of implementing full day schooling of five and a half hours or full day schooling of six hours, with a five day week has been offered as an option for educational institutions http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Now-secondary-schools-get-timings-exemption/78008.html