Why must schoolchildren lose out on their vacation?

Not all schoolchildren enjoy their summer vacation doing what they want to do - this is particularly true of Class 9 students, who suffer as much stress as the SSLC students.

Every year, after the completion of their school annual exams, these children start classes early. The schools deprive them of their two-month vacation, in an effort to prepare them for the SSLC exams for the academic year. While the school administrations call it ‘special classes or ‘bridge’ course, the parents and students call it a ‘damn’ course. 

“It was a practice started by the CBSE schools, as the academic load took a substantial leap from Class IX to Class X standard. The school management, in an effort to prepare children to take the load in early stages of the academic year, had come up with this practice. But, in the course of time, this pattern was followed by other forms of academic schemes, making the bridge course a common academic practice” said Sharada Upadhyaya, a senior teacher of a leading CBSE school in Mangalore. This is a common practice in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra as well, she said. “Schools in Delhi have been at it for nearly a decade,” she added.

Today, the parents have started questioning the practice: Why must the children lose out on their vacation?  Is this not a deprivation of their playtime and recreational activities? “My son Vignesh's Class 9 exams concluded on March 25.  When he came home that day, he was in a bad mood. He said that he will have to attend classes till April 19, as the school was planning on offering a bridge course test on the last day. My son's plans of joining swimming classes, cycling and playing cricket with his friends were foiled,” said Veena, a bank employee. However, Jayaprakash Rao, a school administrator, in Udupi said that it was necessary for the children to undergo a bridge course as the curriculum is tough. “Sometimes, teachers too are under tremendous pressure to complete the exam portions. So we take this extra step to ensure we don't lag behind,” he said Rather than watching TV and playing games during the vacation, it would do the students much good if they spare a few days of their vacation to attend classes and start focusing on building their academic career, he added.

Critics, however, point out that the schools are doing this to ensure they get 100% results. “By competing for performance and profitability, schools have forgotten the need for relaxation and are depriving the students of their childhood,” said an expert.