Edu Dept increases govt school timings by 40 mins

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 2

The Education Department has increased the timings of the government schools from 8 am to 2 pm to 7:50 am to 2:30 pm. It implies teachers have to stay in schools for 40 minutes more. For winters, November to March, the timings will change from 8:20 am to 3 pm. 

In an order issued by Director School Education, Rupinderjit Singh Brar, on August 1, which was intimated to teachers on Thursday, said there would be no change in the timings for the students. However, it also said, “During the extended working hours, the teachers will take remedial classes for the weak students and other academic activities.” The decision has been taken under the provisions of Right to Education Act, 2009.

“As per the RTE Act, the minimum number of teaching hours of a teacher is 45-hour per week. We have enhanced the work load from 36-hour per week to 40-hour per week. The new timings will be implemented from August 3,” said District Education Officer Anujit Kaur.

President of Joint Action Committee of teachers Bhag Singh Kairon said, “What about the implementation of other provisions of the RTE Act. The pupil teacher ratio is not being adhered to. There is library in each school but no librarian except in five to 10 schools. Even no playgrounds are in the rural schools of Chandigarh.”  

“There is a great resentment among teachers as more than 80 per cent staff is female and they have to look after their children and old parents who are dependent on them. A social issue will arise as the timings of government schools will not match with the private schools and wards of the teachers who study in private schools will reach home before their mothers. Who will look after them?” asked Santosh Dhull, Chief of Government Teachers Union (GTU).

In the schools having double shift, the timings will be from 7 am to 1:40 pm for morning shift and 11:15 am to 5:45 pm for the evening shift. However, the timings will change to 7:50 am to 2:30 pm in morning shift and 10:30 am to 5 pm in evening shift, from November to March.