A wave of opposition has emerged across Kerala as teachers, education experts, and parents unite to reject the state government's recent proposal to introduce Saturday school days.
This move, designed to compensate for lost instructional hours due to hartals and frequent disruptions, has sparked heated debates and widespread criticism.
The proposal, announced last week, has drawn sharp reactions from the Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Association (KPSTA) and other educational bodies. Teachers argue that adding an extra school day will significantly increase their workload, infringing on their time.
As per Matrubhumi News reports, the association fears that the added responsibilities will lead to burnout and reduced productivity among educators, who already face demanding schedules throughout the week.
The pushback isn’t limited to teachers. Better teaching methods, student engagement, and infrastructure improvements will have a far more significant impact than simply adding more days. Parents, too, have expressed reservations, noting that extending the school week will affect not only teachers but also students, who may struggle to cope with the extra demands on their time. Many parents fear that this could affect children's mental health and well-being.
Despite the backlash, the state government remains firm, justifying the proposal as necessary to recover lost instructional hours. Officials argue that frequent hartals and unscheduled disruptions have severely impacted the academic calendar, and the additional school days are essential to compensate.
However, the controversy shows no signs of cooling down, with teachers' unions, management associations, and experts all questioning the long-term impact of this decision. As the debate intensifies, how the government will address the growing opposition remains to be seen.