Sunday classes before board exams evoke mixed reaction
BHUBANESWAR: As schools reopen for classes X and XII students across the state, the government has not listed Sunday as a holiday in the 100-day routine set for completing the courses.
The rule has evoked mixed reactions among the stakeholders. While teachers’ associations and academicians have criticised the idea, some students believe this would help them prepare better for their board exams.
The school and mass education department has prepared the 100-day routine of physical classes to complete the courses before the examinations begin. “We have already lost nine months due to the Covid-19 restrictions. The students of classes X and XII will have to appear for the board examinations. As the online classes were not helping, we resumed physical classes to meet the deadline. We have to sacrifice Sundays for sometime,” a senior official of the department said.
Some schools saw thin attendance on Sunday, while a few others did not notice any major difference in the turnout. “We recorded up to 10% attendance in Class XII on Sunday. However, the attendance on Friday and Saturday was normal,” said Ranjan Kumar Bal, principal of BJB higher secondary school, Bhubaneswar.
“Physical classes have resumed from January 8 after a gap of nine months. High schools and higher secondary schools are hopeful that the attendance will pick up. Normally, students see Sundays as a day of leisure. If they do not get any break from the study, they will get tired and bored,” said a principal from a Bhubaneswar-based higher secondary school.
Prashant Pati, general secretary of Odisha New Grant-in-Aid Secondary School Teachers and Employees Association, said, “As a teacher, we have the experience and habit of working on Sundays, but students need a day off a week. They may become restless if the classes continue without any holidays.”
A student of BJB HSS said he did not feel any difference between Sunday and other days because they needed to cover the syllabus. “This 100-day is a temporary pain if we see the good part of the study. Our board examinations are coming, so these physical classes will help us. We can manage these Sunday blues,” he added.