Too hot, parents against schools opening early in Kerala

Kozhikode: A majority of schools affiliated to the CBSE are getting ready to reopen schools in the first week of May to conduct special classes for students from classes 7 to 10 and also higher secondary students. But the decision has been opposed by a large number of parents, as they do not want their children to suffer in the summer with the temperature soaring every day. They have requested scrapping the special classes during summer and have instead requested that reopening be extended to June.

School managements said they had decided to hold special classes in May because they did not want to rush through the syllabus at the last moment. “Even though parents have expressed their apprehensions over the decision, we have no other option but to begin the classes to complete the portions as soon as possible and involve students in other co curricular activities as laid down by the CBSE”, said Mehar S, a CBSE faculty here.

But, according to Kerala CBSE School Management Association general secretary Indira Rajan who is also the Principal of MET Public School, Perumbavoor, the decision of various school management to begin classes during May first week was not welcome. “The decision would boomerang as children would suffer a lot in summer with the temperature soaring high and non- availability of water sources in a majority of schools,” she said.  She added,  “If any school management really wants to advance the new academic year, it could do so by conducting morning classes from 10 am to 1pm only”.

“I would not prefer my kids to go to schools during May, as Kozhikode records the highest temperature”, said Swarna Unnikrishna, a mother of two kids studying in a CBSE school here. “Even for adults it is difficult to sit in office due to the high temperature and the situation will be worse for kids”, she added. Hence the PTA has decided to approach school authorities to amend its timing.