Thiruvananthapuram: Break essential for wellbeing

Thiruvananthapuram: State curriculum committee member N. Sreekumar has said the decision to forbid conducting ‘special classes’ in schools during the two-month summer vacation was taken by the directorate of public instruction (DPI) taking a view that the break was essential for the physical and mental wellbeing of school students.

However, schools have been given permission to conduct vacation classes for class 10 students. Last year, special programmes like Mikavulsavom were conducted during the vacation. “However, this year we have decided not to conduct such programmes during the vacation. Hence, this year, Mikavulsavom was scheduled to be held from January 26 to February 15. It is now going on in various schools,” Mr Sreekumar said. The DPI in the order issued last year directed government, aided and unaided schools to not conduct ‘any sort of classes’ during the time. The circular was also made applicable to schools following the CBSE and CISCE syllabuses.

Strict instruction has been given to headmasters and school managers to comply with the circular and directed them not to conduct any sort of classes for lower primary, upper primary and high school students. “If any child falls prey to heat-related problems during such special classes during vacation time, then the respective school management/ headmaster/teachers will be held accountable for such mishaps,” reads the circular.