Indore: Holiday season is headache for students, teachers and parents

After being closed for five days on account of Diwali, the city schools will remain shut for 10 more days in November on account of festivals, Sundays and polling for state assembly. This will be followed by seven holidays in December for Christmas.

With this extended holiday season, both teachers and senior students are worried about how to complete the syllabus within stipulated time. "There is a severe pressure on teachers to complete syllabus on time especially for the board classes. We are conducting extra classes too as there have been many holidays in the last few months," said Sri Satya Sai Vidya Vihar School senior teacher Pramod Dalmiya.

Advanced Academy principal Manoj Bajpai too expressed apprehension about syllabus not getting  completed on time. "Our deadline for completing the syllabus is December 1 but it will be delayed by week's time on account of so many holidays," said he.

With district administration planning to acquire school buses to ferry government employees for election duty, the school authorities are also not sure whether they will have adequate attendance on the day after the polls. "It entirely depends on the situation that arises on November 25 (polling day). In case the buses do not return by night, we will have to declare a holiday the next day (November 26) as a large number of students come to schools in buses," said Bajpai.

The situation is similar in other private schools too. "Lack of buses would be a problem. How can classes be held without students? said Indore Sahodaya Cluster chairman Prakash Chaudhary said. Even parents, both working and home makers, are finding so many holidays annoying.

"With children staying at home so frequently on account of holidays, our routine gets disturbed as we have to be at home with them or prepare a backup plan to ensure that they are engaged in some useful activities," said Priyanka Mangal, mother of nursery student of Emerald Heights School.