The education authorities in Himachal Pradesh have been forced to intervene after several government school principals reportedly ignored explicit instructions regarding the scheduling of their annual day functions. The Directorate of School Education has now issued a firm order to immediately halt this practice, which is seen as disruptive to the academic calendar.
Directive Issued to Stop December Functions
Taking serious note of multiple complaints, the Directorate of School Education, on Wednesday, ordered an immediate stop to annual functions being organised in government schools during the month of December. This directive came as a direct response to clear violations of earlier orders that mandated all such events must be strictly held between November 1 and November 30 every year.
The primary aim of this long-standing rule is to safeguard students' academic schedules from being disrupted by the extensive preparations and celebrations associated with annual day events. The directorate reminded all deputy directors of school education that these instructions were not new and had been reinforced through an official communication dated December 9, 2024. Despite this, violations continued to be reported from various schools, prompting the fresh crackdown.
A Temporary Reprieve with Conditions
Following the initial strict order, the directorate later scaled back its stance slightly, offering a conditional concession. In a separate communication, it was stated that for this year only, schools would be permitted to organise their annual functions until December 31.
However, this extension is not unconditional. Schools availing themselves of this extended deadline have been directed to submit a detailed written explanation to the authorities. They must justify the compelling circumstances that prevented them from conducting the function within the official cutoff period ending November 30.
Ensuring Academic Priorities
This entire episode underscores the administration's focus on maintaining academic rigor and minimizing extracurricular disruptions during crucial teaching periods. By confining major events like annual days to November, the education department aims to ensure that the latter part of the academic session remains focused on syllabus completion and exam preparation.
The move to demand explanations from defaulting school heads is seen as a measure to enforce accountability. It signals that while some flexibility might be shown for genuine logistical reasons, the established academic calendar must be respected to prioritize student learning outcomes above all else.
