Page 26 - March EW PDF 24

Education News

publication of number and periodic- ate ways and means
ity of papers published by doctoral to comply with the
students are stipulated by UGC and government notifica-
a joint council of all IITs. IIT-M’s re- tion. “After the NBASA
quirement of a paper every semester meeting, our school has
is of doubtful legality,” he says. started preparations to
Shivani Chaturvedi (Chennai) effectively implement
the revised timings in-
MAHARASHTRA cluding changing meal
Hasty decision schedules in the school
cafeteria, transporta-
tion, and other logistics
circular dated february 8 management. During
issued by the state govern- the PTM, we will also
A ment’s education ministry ad- Mumbai pre-primary students: sleep deprivation concern inform parents about
vising change of pre-primary to class the rationale behind the
IV school timings to 9 a.m onwards, lar should have directed school man- timings change and potential benefits
has divided the educators and parents agements to advise parents to adjust for children’s health and well-being
communities statewide. Expressing their lifestyles and ensure that young- and address parents’ concerns,” says
concern over the issue of children not est children get adequate sleep. The Dr. Savita Sable, director of aca-
getting adequate sleep because of “late revised timings are also likely to cre- demics and administration at Gold-
bed-time routines and increased expo- ate road traffic management problems crest High, Vashi, Navi Mumbai.
sure to entertainment,” the circular for the civic management authorities,” Nevertheless, there is considerable
advises all schools to start classes at says Dr. Swati Popat Vats, presi- heart-burn about the unsteady break-
9 a.m or later. Two-shift schools are dent of the Early Childhood Associa- away Shiv Sena-BJP government’s
to adjust timings accordingly but no tion of India (ECA) and president of tendency to shoot off circulars and
schools are permitted to start pre-pri- the 490-strong Podar Jumbo Kids directives without adequate consider-
mary to class IV classes before 9 a.m. preschool chain where classes for pre- ation and consultation. “Pre-occupied
The circular has reportedly been schoolers begin at 9 a.m. with coalition politics, ministers and
prompted by a study conducted by the Moreover, the new timings diktat pliant bureaucrats of this coalition
State Council of Educational Research is likely to throw helter-skelter the government tend to shoot first and
and Training (SCERT) that examined schedules of numerous schools which worry about damage control later,”
school timings across the state. It run two-shift schools to accommodate quips a harassed school principal.
revealed that a large number of pre- large student numbers in the land- Nasrin Modak Siddiqi (Mumbai)
primary and primaries start classes at starved commercial capital. “Many
7 a.m. The SCERT study opined that schools in Mumbai including ours run MADHYA PRADESH
two shifts — a morning (starting 8.15
the early start profoundly affects the a.m) and afternoon (1 p.m) shift. The ASER silver lining
“operational rhythms” of preschool-
ers especially during adverse weather new timings circular will delay and
conditions. disrupt both shifts as well as school he annual status of educa-
The SCERT study also prompted bus transport arrangements. Work- tion Report (ASER) 2023,
Governor Ramesh Bais to voice alarm ing parents will be specially incon- Tpublished by the independent
over disrupted sleep patterns and ad- venienced as it will clash with office not-for-profit Pratham Education
verse effects of modern lifestyle habits timings. The government should have Foundation (estb.1995), assessed the
on students’ sleep quality and overall consulted schools and parents’ asso- learning outcomes of 1,514 teenage
enthusiasm for learning. ciations before issuing the circular,” children aged 14-18 years from 1,193
However, some sentient monitors says Rohan Bhat, chairman of the households in Bhopal and 60 villages
of Maharashtra’s education scene are Children’s Academy Group of three in Bhopal district.
of the opinion that the government or- schools in Mumbai. ASER 2023 reports 62 percent of
der has been issued hastily. “In an in- With the government unlikely to teens struggle with basic arithmetic
creasing number of middle and work- rescind the circular, Mumbai schools tasks, such as division problems
ing class households with both parents are bracing up to implement it. The involving 3-digit numbers and 1-digit
working, the revised timing, which are New Bombay Area Schools’ Asso- divisors, 48.85 percent struggle to
concurrent with office hours, is likely ciation (NBASA) conducted an ur- read simple English sentences and
to prove very inconvenient. The circu- gent principals’ meeting to deliber- 42 percent have difficulty following

26 EDUCATIONWORLD MARCH 2024