Teachers, parents oppose sports timing in Jharkhand govt schools

RANCHI: The state school education and literacy department’s new timing for government schools has ruffled many feathers. According to the new schedule, the students enrolled in Classes I-X of all government schools have to function from 6.30am to 1pm, starting from Saturday (April 1), and one hour (1pm-2pm) has been fixed as sports period.
State general secretary of Akhil Jharkhand Prathmik Sikshak Sangh Rammurti Thakur said, “The new schedule allows students to play indoor and outdoor games for an hour for their physical and mental growth.However, the scheduled time between 1pm and 2pm is not ideal to be outdoor as it will be extremely hot. The department should re-evaluate the schedule.”
Parents, too, sounded concerned about their children’s health as a result of the altered schedule. Sukarmani Devi, a parent from Piska More, said, "Heat wave conditions prevail during summer noons. So, the one-hour period seems impractical, and detrimental to the health of students.”
“Physical training, jogging, aerobics and yoga are appreciated. But, if kids play in the afternoon heat, their health may be affected,” said Ravindra Kumar, a parent from Ratu Road.
Pointing out a different problem, Anjani Devi, a parent from Madhukum, said, “Majority of children in the morning school arrive without having eaten breakfast. So, after having mid-day meal, it will be difficult for them to play. They should either play in the morning or in the evening.”
Many students shared their preference for evening slot. Asha Kumari, a Class IX student of Government High School, Hatma Basti, said, “Sports activities should be held in the evening.”
School education and literacy department secretary K Ravi Kumar said, “The sports period has been fixed according to the New Education Policy which emphasises on physical development of students. In response to the concerns of parents and teacher’ unions, a revised schedule will be released.”