Bhubaneswar: The state government decision to shorten summer vacation has caused resentment among teachers many of whom have also urged the government to revise class timings from 6 am to 6.30 am.
“It seems those who are taking decisions are not used to practical thinking. To reach school before 6 am, a child will have to wake up at 5 am and get ready for school, which is difficult for primary schoolchildren. So, we request the government to revise the school timing,” said
Brahmananda Maharana
, president of Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association (OPTA).
With temperature rising, the teachers also requested the government to prepone summer vacation from June to May. “In the next few days temperature is likely to go up even further and by May the summer will be at its peak. Not just children, teachers also face health issues. Many teachers have to travel long distance to reach school,” said OPTA general secretary
Bibhu Prasad Sahu
. Teachers said by June the temperature would go down. So, there is no point in having summer holidays then. They also demanded elective holiday like those of teachers of higher education institutes, for the days they will do extra work during the summer vacation.