Maharashtra: Vinod Tawde considers cutting short holidays in schools

To give students more time for studies, Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde said he is mulling over reducing number of non-instructional days in schools to just 5 or 10 in a year, while currently there are 52 such days.

Non-instructional days at schools, when there are no academic activities, are likely to be cut-short from the next academic year. To give students more time for studies, Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde said he is mulling over reducing number of non-instructional days in schools to just 5 or 10 in a year, while currently there are 52 such days.

This will not affect long vacations and other school holidays such as summer, winter or Diwali break. Non-instructional days are announced by schools on important days such as birth anniversaries of freedom fighters, leaders, Independence Day, Republic day, among others.

“More than 50 days in an academic year are lost in functions organised on important days,” said Tawde. “Proper management of resources is required so students and teachers can use these days for studies.”

However, academicians were divided on the benefits of reducing these days. Some said that it will help schools in completing the syllabus on time, while others said that it would stifle students’ creativity.

Anjana Prakash, principal of Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri said, “There is no need to give too many non-instructional days.” She said this takes a toll on students as they do not get sufficient time for revision.

On the other hand, Father Baptist Pinto, principal, St Mary’s School (SSC) Mazgaon, said, “Non-instructional days give students a break from the monotony of classes and they are educational too, as students learn about different things.”