Jaipur Teachers Propose Winter Break Schedule Change
Government school teachers in Rajasthan have made a formal request to alter the winter break schedule. They advocate for shifting the holiday period from the last week of December to the first week of January.
Addressing Cold Wave Disruptions
This proposal responds to consistently dropping temperatures during early January. These conditions have led to unforeseen school closures due to cold waves. The teachers argue that aligning the winter break with these weather patterns will help maintain the academic calendar's integrity. It will also ensure a consistent number of teaching days throughout the school year.
Vipin Prakash Sharma, State President of the Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers Association, emphasized the need for change. He stated, "At a time when the government is implementing innovative measures, such as starting the new academic session from April 1, it should also consider revising the winter vacation schedule. This session, schools reopened on January 6, but in all 41 districts, the district collectors declared holidays in schools until further notice."
Formal Demand and Practical Suggestions
The association wrote a letter to the education minister demanding practical changes to the winter vacation schedule for the upcoming session. Mahendra Pandey, State General Secretary of the association, provided specific recommendations based on recent patterns.
He explained, "Based on the pattern noticed over the past few years, cold wave conditions continue for about 15 days at the beginning of January. Therefore, the government should schedule the winter vacation from January 1 to January 15. This would prevent disruptions to children's studies after schools reopen and would also be more convenient for the teachers."
Recent Disruptions Highlight the Issue
This academic session, the winter break was originally scheduled from December 25 to January 5, with schools supposed to reopen on January 6. However, due to fog and cold wave conditions in the state, 20 districts announced holidays for students up to Class 8 in both government and private schools on January 5.
The orders were revised on Sunday, extending holidays in nine districts again until January 14. These disruptions underscore the teachers' concerns about maintaining teaching days.
Government's Previous Stance
In August 2024, the education minister had indicated that winter holidays would be announced when cold conditions start instead of following predetermined dates. He noted that cold waves often peak around mid-January, compelling the department to declare holidays due to extreme weather. This results in reduced teaching days, highlighting the need for a more flexible or adjusted schedule.
The teachers' proposal aims to create a more predictable and effective academic calendar by proactively scheduling breaks during peak cold periods.
