Team Goemkarponn
PONDA: Ponda parents have expressed support for the National Education Policy (NEP), but they were adamantly against the school year starting in April because they were worried about the intense summer heat and the possible health risks it would provide to the pupils.
Parents gathered in Ponda and emphasized the need for kids to have a vacation or break following exams in order to avoid exhaustion and heat-related ailments. They recommended delaying the start of classes until after mid-May or June, when the monsoon season is cooler, instead than during the hottest summer months.
Parents have asked officials to delay the NEP’s implementation by at least a year until schools have air conditioning and adequate ventilation systems, citing concerns that the heat wave may worsen in the days ahead.
Dr. Ketan Bhatikar clarified the parents’ worries by stating, “Parents are against the idea to start schools in April, not the NEP itself. The intense heat wave and the necessity of a break for the mental health of the pupils are the two primary causes of this.
He noted that kids will have to return to school very immediately in April following the conclusion of secondary school exams on March 28. “The heat wave in Goa is currently causing pain for people of all ages, from little toddlers to the elderly. In addition, he said, “government schools do not have air conditioning or adequate ventilation to help students deal with the rising temperatures.”
Additionally, Dr. Bhatikar emphasized the psychological toll that exams take on parents and kids. “Parents also feel anxious during exams, in addition to students.” Recuperation and relaxation require a pause. “It is regrettable that students will have to return to schoolwork only two or three days following their exams,” he said.
He said that a vacation following exams enables students to participate in extracurricular activities and pursue new interests, and he asked the Chief Minister and education officials to reevaluate the decision. For their children’s post-exam break, a lot of parents had previously scheduled and reserved trips. He emphasized that this is a requirement rather than merely a luxury.
