This story is from May 30, 2020

Chandigarh: Summer holidays extended till June 7

The UT education department on Friday extended the summer vacation in government schools till June 7. Earlier, the holidays had been extended till May 31 on May 18. These schools have been on vacation since April 15.
Chandigarh: Summer holidays extended till June 7
Representative image
CHANDIGARH: The UT education department on Friday extended the summer vacation in government schools till June 7. Earlier, the holidays had been extended till May 31 on May 18. These schools have been on vacation since April 15.
The department’s order said the vacation has been extended in lieu of all second Saturdays from August 2020 till January 2021.
The previous extension was in lieu of winter vacation and two second Saturdays of February and March 2021.
The order passed by district education officer Alka Mehta read, “It has been decided by the department that summer vacation in all the government and government-aided schools of Chandigarh will be observed till June 7, 2020 (six working days) by adjusting the second Saturdays from August 2020 to January 2021as working days.”
However, the decision to extend holidays in lieu of second Saturdays and winter vacation has not gone down well with the government school teachers, even as they continue the hold online classes during the extended vacation.
They said even during the summer vacation, from April 15 till May 14, teachers were asked to hold online classes and aweekly report was also sought by the department, though the department had said it was voluntary. Even after May 14, online teaching and teachers’ training has continued.
They said their burden has only increased due to work from home and online classes and they have been spending a lot more time on preparing and sharing content and reaching out to every child, as most do not have internet facility.
“This is unfair. Vacations are meant for rejuvenation, but we have been working all through it. Lack of proper infrastructure is forcing us to teach students by calling them over phone,” said a teacher.
Another teacher said, “Unlike us, private schools gave 15 days during the summer vacation without any online classes. We were also told to submit a weekly report which again is a lengthy exercise.”
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