Team Goemkarponn
DELHI: In a detailed five-page memorandum, Fernandes criticized the decision, which has sparked protests from students, parents, and educators. Parents, who recently submitted their own memorandum to Fernandes opposing the shift, have voiced their main concerns over the extreme summer heat and the inadequate school infrastructure to handle the early start.
“Traditionally, even before Liberation, schools in Goa concluded by the first week of April, allowing students to travel, rest, and enjoy time with family before the new academic year begins in June with the onset of the monsoon. In Delhi, summer sets in later, and that’s why schools start the academic year in April,” Fernandes explained. He went on to argue that the decision to start the year in April reflects a lack of consideration for Goa’s unique climate.
“The Goa education department seems to be blindly following the Centre’s directives without applying logic or understanding the local context. The education department is failing to adequately address the needs and concerns of students, teachers, and parents,” Fernandes added, speaking to reporters outside the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The parents’ memorandum also sharply criticizes the rushed implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Goa. They argue that stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and school administrators, were not consulted prior to the shift in the academic calendar, and the Directorate of Education has not provided sufficient guidance on how to handle the policy changes.
In response to the March 28 circular issued by the Directorate of Education, which mandates the reopening of schools on April 7, parents have threatened to file a second petition before the High Court of Bombay at Goa. They seek to challenge the government’s decision, stating that the concerns regarding the shift, especially the impact on students’ well-being, have not been addressed adequately.
Fernandes, in his memorandum to Pradhan, urged the Union Minister to review the decision and consider a more localized approach to the academic calendar. “The education system should cater to the specific needs of students in different regions, and in Goa, the academic year should start later to accommodate the climate and the well-being of children,” he said.
As the controversy over the academic calendar intensifies, it remains to be seen whether the Union Ministry or the state government will reconsider the decision in light of the growing concerns from local stakeholders.
