Govt schools shut for summer with key academic gaps unresolved

Chandigarh: Govt schools in Chandigarh went on summer vacation on May 23, nearly two months after the academic session began on April 1, leaving behind an academic term marked by unresolved issues ranging from missing Class IX textbooks and disruption in skill classes to uncertainty over contractual staff central to student support systems.

While classrooms closed for the break, concerns that marked the opening weeks of the session remain largely unsettled in the govt school system. Class IX students are yet to receive hard copies of revised NCERT textbooks, vocational education classes were disrupted due to delays in the renewal of contracts of nearly 200 teachers, and questions persisted over the employment conditions of school counsellors engaged under Project SAATHI, despite expanding student wellness programmes.

One of the most visible gaps has been the delay in the availability of revised Class IX NCERT textbooks introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF). Teachers said several schools continued classes using photocopies, shared material and digital PDFs, as physical books did not arrive before the summer break.

Although NCERT uploaded digital versions of most Class IX subjects in recent weeks, teachers said social science (SST) content remained unavailable or incomplete in many cases, affecting continuity in classroom instruction. The delay is significant as the administration this year expanded free textbook distribution to students of Classes IX to XII in government schools.

At the same time, skill education — increasingly emphasised under CBSE’s vocational framework — remained impacted during the initial phase of the session due to delays in renewing contracts of vocational teachers engaged on yearly agreements. Teachers’ representatives said this affected classroom instruction in subjects such as information technology, retail, beauty and wellness, marketing, artificial intelligence and employability skills.

Concerns over student wellness infrastructure also remained. Under Project SAATHI, counsellors in govt schools continue to work through outsourced contracts, even as revised CBSE affiliation norms stress the need for full-time counselling support. Issues such as unpaid vacation periods and continuity of engagement were flagged, raising concerns over alignment between institutional expectations and employment conditions.

Teachers said the opening weeks of the academic year — crucial for foundational learning and adjustment to new curriculum material — were spent managing shortages and administrative issues rather than regular teaching.

Education department officials maintained that several of the issues, particularly textbook supply, were transitional and linked to phased rollout and curriculum changes.

With schools now closed for summer, attention will shift to whether these gaps are addressed before reopening. For many teachers and parents, the expectation is that schools resume with textbooks available, classrooms fully staffed and support systems functioning without disruption.