Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The State government has decided to continue with the revised academic calendar for the academic year 2026–27, with classes for students from Class VI to Class X and Class XII scheduled to commence from April 1.
Primary classes from Class I to Class V will remain outside the revised system for yet another year, with their academic term set to begin on June 6, in line with the earlier practice. Class XI will also follow the June-to-March schedule.
The government has opted to continue enforcing the Rules framed under the Goa School Education Act, 1984, which were notified last year. Under these provisions, the academic year for Classes VI to X and Class XII will run from April 1, 2026, to March 24, 2027, while Classes I to V and Class XI will have their term from June 2026 to March 2027.
This will mark the second year of implementation of the revised calendar, which was introduced to bring State board schools in line with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) pattern that follows an April-to-March academic cycle.
As per the academic calendar issued by the Directorate of Education, the first academic term will extend from April 1 to October 10, followed by the second term from October 12 to March 24, 2027.
Director of Education Shailesh Zingade said that although the academic year start date differs for primary classes, the structure of terms, vacations and holidays for Classes I to V will mirror those prescribed for higher classes.
“The first summative assessment or first-term examination will conclude by October 10, while the second term examination is expected to end by March 13, 2027. However, the declaration of final annual results will not take place before March 31, 2027,” Zingade said.
According to the notified schedule, the summer vacation for all classes will be observed from May 1 to June 5. The Ganesh Chaturthi break has been fixed from September 14 to September 19, while schools will remain closed for Diwali from November 2 to November 21.
The Christmas vacation will be from December 24 to January 2. Schools have also been permitted to declare ten discretionary holidays, of which four must fall between September 16 and 19, while the remaining six may be finalised in consultation with parent-teacher associations and school managements.
The calendar specifies that teachers will have a minimum of 220 working days in the academic year, including examination days, while students must have at least 200 instructional days. School instructional time has been fixed at a minimum of five hours and 30 minutes per day, excluding recess, the Director added.
