Private schools directed not to conduct extra classes after 6 p.m., engage students during weekends, holidays

The Education department has issued a direction to the managements of private schools not to hold extra classes after 6 p.m. and engage students during weekends and public holidays.

“No private school within the Union Territory of Puducherry should conduct any academic or extracurricular classes beyond 6 p.m. on any working day. The private schools are strictly prohibited from engaging students in academic, extracurricular or any other forms of school-related activities on weekends, public holidays and declared holidays of the Government of Puducherry,” Director of School Education P. Priyatarshny said in an order. 

The department has asked the school managements to strictly comply with the directions. The private schools should notify the staff, parents, and students about the new guidelines to ensure strict compliance of the directions, the order said. 

“The order has been issued after it was brought to the knowledge of the government that some private schools in the Union Territory are conducting classes beyond permissible hours and engaging students during weekends and declared holidays. Such practices place undue and physical stress on students, depriving them of adequate rest, recreation and opportunities for holistic development,” the order said. 

Ms. Priytarshny said the department would put in place a proper mechanism to monitor whether the private managements were following the new guidelines. “The directions were essential to ensure the well-being of students and so it was important that the educational institutions adhered to the regulations. We are planning to form special teams to monitor the functioning of the schools,” she added.