Double-shift schools or single sessions? Haryana seeks reports within three days

Gurgaon: The state education department has proposed converting govt schools running in double shifts into single-session institutions and has asked district education officers (DEOs) to submit feasibility reports within three days. The move follows discussions during a recent direction meeting chaired by the chief minister. DEOs have been asked to include school-wise data, including total student strength, existing shift arrangements, classroom availability, and infrastructure requirements needed to accommodate all students in a single session. The reports should also clarify whether the transition can be implemented without constructing additional rooms. Officials said the move aims at improving academic efficiency, increasing instructional time and strengthening co-curricular activities. Adopting a unified schedule could streamline teaching hours, reduce logistical challenges, and strengthen monitoring and supervision."In a standard single-shift environment, students follow the 8am to 2.30pm schedule, providing them with 6.5 hours of comprehensive instruction, sports, and extracurricular activities. In contrast, double-shift schools operate on a compressed timeline—the first shift often starts from 7am to 12.30pm, while the second runs from 12.45pm to 6.15pm—which reduces their total time to just 5.5 hours," a Gurgaon-based teacher said, adding that the gap widens to 2 hours in winters. Gurgaon has 35 such schools which operate in double shifts, of which the maximum number of schools are in the Gurgaon block, with 27 schools, 4 in Farukhnagar, and 4 in the Sohna block.
Officials said the department is exploring long-term infrastructure upgrades, including additional construction and optimised classroom allocation, to support the transition, while emphasising that accurate data collection is critical."While the directorate is collecting data on room shortages to assess the feasibility of merging shifts, the practical reality is challenging. Many of these double-shift schools are located in highly congested areas with limited physical space. Merging two entire shifts of students into one session is tough without new construction," said another teacher.Officials stressed that double shifts are not a permanent right. Schools are only allowed to operate them on an annual basis if they lack sufficient facilities. Each year, the directorate checks if new classrooms have been built or if there has been a drop in student numbers that would permit a return to a single shift. To ensure fairness for all students, officials are now strictly auditing schools to prevent administrators from hiding their true capacity.