Panaji: A petition has been filed before the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking to strike down the Directorate of Education’s circular dated January 30, 2025, which mandates the commencement of the academic year for Grades 6 to 12 from April 1.
The petitioners — Manuel Sidney Antao and others—have urged the court to direct authorities to revert to the traditional June start.
The High Court has granted time to the state government and the Union Ministry of Education to file their replies and adjourned the hearing to March 19.
As per the circular, the 2025-26 academic year for the Goa Board schools will begin on April 1 for Classes VI to X and XII, with summer vacations starting from May 1 and schools reopening on June 3. The government has stated that classes in April will conclude by 11.30 am to mitigate the impact of summer heat.
The Advocate General informed the court that the decision was made after consultations with experts and in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He assured that necessary precautions were being taken to safeguard students’ well-being.
Meanwhile, a delegation of parents and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members met the education secretary, urging the government to reconsider the decision. They cited concerns over extreme heat, water shortages, and power fluctuations, arguing that reopening in April would be uncomfortable and unhealthy for students and teachers.
