For 6 Hrs Of Class, Students Spend 4 Hrs In Busses
Dir Edu Has No Locus Standi To Dictate Our Timing: Principal
Srinagar – The Delhi Public School (DPS), Budgam, run by the family of an influential Congress politician, has refused to enforce the winter timings notified by the state government, putting tender-aged students to needless ordeal in biting cold, on the specious plea that it was governed by the Central Board of School Education (CBSE) rules.
A group of parents charged the school authorities with violating the winter timing announced by the government and enforcing summer timings primarily because it has to ferry bulk of its students from far off places.
Opening at 9 in the morning instead of stipulated 10 am, the school forces a large number of tiny tots coming from places as distant as Waternad in Budgam to Gulab Bagh in Srinagar to wait for its buses at an unearthly time of 7 am. The students spend about four hours in the buses to attend classes for six hours.
In winter months, most students have to leave home in bitter morning cold, and are dropped back around sunset, leaving them too exhausted for self-study or recreation, parents said.
Interestingly, the DPS, Athwajan, Srinagar, has been observing the winter timing ever since these came into effect. The school administration at DPS, Budgam, cite CBSE rules. Why is the DPS, Srinagar, following the new timings? Isnt it governed by CBSE norms? Syed Ali, father of a KG student, asked.
The director, School Education, Muhammad Shafi Rathar, feigned ignorance about DPS, Budgam flouting his orders and ensured an enquiry into the matter.
When contacted after a week, Rather said, Keeping old timing wont bring any disaster. This is a small issue. Still I will talk to the chief education officer.
The school administration has been accused of ferrying students from far off places with resultant inconvenience to children.
In winter, most students have to leave home braving morning chill and are dropped back around sunset, leaving them too exhausted for self-study or recreation, parents say.
With an intake capacity of 1,500 students, the school has to cater to the Budgam district, the school has enrolled students from far off places for commercial considerations given its high tuition and admission fees.
According to parents, the school is reluctant to adopt winter timings as that would slash class-work by at least an hour, as its busses have to ferry students from far-off pick-up points which would be unable to make it by the prescribed opening time.
When contacted, the school principal said, It is the choice of parents whether to admit their children in our school or not. This is not our problem.
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