Schools ignorant to academic calendar, busy in holding cultural programmes

Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, Jan 20

Contrary to the requirements of educational calendar, the atmosphere at majority of educational institutes, including private schools and colleges, is celebratory and ignorant to the approaching exams.

Tendency of owners and managers of private educational institutes to hog limelight in media by organising various functions in the name of co-curricular or personality building activities, is apprehended to affect the academic performance at these organisations.

Unavoidable adverse affect of inclement weather is another factor breaking momentum of academic preparation of students while annual examinations are fast approaching.

Observations revealed that students and teachers at majority of schools and colleges were busy in preparing cultural items for presentation at cultural programmes, including Republic Day, scheduled to be organised individually or collectively.

Parents complained that authorities at schools and colleges had failed to comprehend significance of academics prior to annual examination. “What is more worrying is that the pressure on students increases manifolds, even if they are not participating in extra-curricular activities,” said Isha Sharma, a parent. Parents demanded that functions of any kind should be scheduled accordingly so that students do not suffer prior to examinations.

Acknowledging the tendency, heads of some schools of the region said they had advised teachers of their institutes to ensure that studies of students appearing for board exams should not be hindered. “For instance, participation in national functions, such as the Republic Day, is also our moral duty. But in charges and subject teachers of board classes have been advised not to involve their students in extra-curricular activities during and prior to exam days,” said Viney Kumar, principal of a private-aided school of Ahmedgarh.