5-day week for higher secondary schools in Kerala
Decision was taken on the basis of the report of the Labba committee
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-06-25 07:25 GMT
Thiruvananthapuram: The state government will implement five-day week in higher secondary schools from July 1. Education minister P.K. Abdu Rabb told the Assembly that the decision was taken on the basis of the report of the Labba committee appointed by the state government.
Presently, the higher secondary schools followed a six-day week with all Saturdays except second Saturday being working days. Teachers’ organisations were earlier against implementing a five-day week.
The change would also mean that working hours of the schools will be changed from the existing schedule of 9.15 a.m-- 4 p.m. to 9.00 a.m.-- 4.30 p.m. However, the reduced working week does not apply to vocational higher secondary school students. The Labba committee recommended continuing with the six-day week for vocational higher secondary because five days would not be enough to give comprehensive vocational training to students.
The issue came up for discussion at the last meeting of the curriculum committee of the General Education Department held here this week. The curriculum committee which approved the proposal for five- day week also asked a body of experts to revise the higher secondary curriculum to fit in with the five-day week schedule effectively.
Teachers in the higher secondary sector have been pointing out that Saturdays are holidays for classes I to X and also for colleges, including professional colleges, even though it was a working day for them.