Special Correspondent
Panaji: The department of education on Wednesday clarified that it has not issued any circular or notification bringing ahead commencement of the academic year in the state from June to April.
It may be noted that teachers and parents have raised concerns over the proposal of the education department to commence the school academic year from April 1 instead of the month of June.
Director of Education Shailesh Zingade told ‘The Navhind Times’ that there has been widespread opposition over the issue although no official announcement has been made in this respect.
According to the National Education Policy 2020, the academic year is proposed to begin on April 1 and end on March 31, with a one-month summer break typically occurring in May – May 1 to June 4 (or till the first week of June) – aligning the school calendar with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) system.
This change aims to facilitate timely completion of curriculum. However, it is up to each state and Union territory to take the related decision.
Speaking further, Zingade said that no policy can supersede the state Act and rules on education namely Goa, Daman and Diu School Education Act, 1984 and Goa Education Rules, 1986, besides others. “However, education being a concurrent subject, it is up to the state government to take a decision as regards shifting the period of the academic year by amending the said Act and rules,” he said.
The director of education also said that the decision by any state government in the country to shift the period of academic year is always region-specific. “Sometimes there is snowfall in a state during a certain period, while another state may experience hot weather during some other period,” he said, maintaining that such occurrences can affect the starting of the academic year.
Zingade also said the months from March to May are very hot in Goa and hence it is difficult to hold school classes during this period.
The All Goa Secondary School Teachers’ Association, in a memorandum presented to the education department, has highlighted how the traditional commencement of schools in the month of June aligns better with Goan climatic conditions.
“Both, students and teachers are accustomed to the June start, which provides a conducive learning environment during the cooler monsoon season,” it has said, pointing out that a sudden change will disrupt their readiness and lead to unnecessary stress.
