Edu Dept bombards schools with work

Schools have only just reopened after vacations and they have started receiving circulars from the education department on celebrating different days for different national leaders.

While, summative 1 test exam dates for students of grade 1 to 8 being declared by the education department has also not gone down well with teachers. This test is conducted by education department who sets the question papers, and will take place from November 8 to 11.

Rajesh Pandya, vice president of Teachers Democratic Front, said, "Schools have to first celebrate Students Day on 7th in memory of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's first day in school, and on the next day the education department has asked us to conduct a summative 1 test exam. The school has just started and we are being bombarded with loads of work from celebration to conducting exams. For the summative test, we have not even been informed about the portion to be covered and how many marks will it be."

For Students Day, schools have been asked to show a movie based on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's biography, conduct essay competitions and felicitate former students. Whereas in the summative 1 test exams, the schools have been asked to conduct tests of first language, Mathematics, English, third language and science respectively.

Prashant Redij, spokesperson, Mumbai Principals Association, said, "We hope that the education department has data of number students of all schools so that they can accordingly send question papers in a sealed pack to avoid getting leaked. If they send fewer question papers than the number of students in school, then the schools will have to send them for photocopying which leads to leaking."