Mixed reaction to Saturday classes for HSE

Classes on four Saturdays this year to make up for lost days

The government decision to hold classes for students of higher secondary education (HSE) on four Saturdays this academic year has evoked mixed reactions.

The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP), welcoming the move, said that 220 school days were needed to cover the higher secondary portions comprehensively as per the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) syllabi. These did not include exam days and those for school fetes and fairs. Till last year, schools functioned on Saturdays. However, the number of working days was reduced to five days a week, and the school hours increased. This put students to a lot of hardship. The decision to conduct classes on four Saturdays was taken to make up for weeks where classes could not be held on all five days. The decision was taken to protect the right of children to study, the KSSP said.

However, on a contrasting note, the Kerala Gazetted Officers Association demanded that the government roll back the decision. In a statement here, the State secretariat of the association said the decision was taken to ensure that the higher secondary section in schools functioned on 200 days.

220 school days are needed to cover

the portions comprehensively as per NCERT syllabi.