Kerala govt increases school hours for Classes VIII to X by half an hour to meet RTE Act requirements-OxBig News Network

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The Kerala government has issued an order increasing the working hours of Classes VIII to X in government, aided, and recognised unaided schools following State syllabus by 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon (30 minutes total) on all days except Fridays.

The revised timings will come into effect immediately. This will help realise the target of 220 working days and 1,100 instructional hours for Class VIII as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act and for Classes IX and X as per the Kerala Education Rules.

As per the revised timetable for the high school, classes will begin at 9.45 a.m. and conclude at 4.15 p.m. The first period will begin at 9.45 a.m. and the second at 10.30 a.m. A 10-minute interval at 11.15 a.m. will be followed by the third period at 11.25 a.m. and the fourth period at 12.05 p.m.

A one-hour breaks will be held from 12.45 p.m. to 1.45 p.m. Fifth and sixth periods will begin at 1.45 p.m. and 2.25 p.m. A five-minute break at 3.05 p.m. will be followed by seventh and eighth periods at 3.10 p.m. and 3.45 p.m.

According to another order, six Saturdays in a week without consecutive six working days will be working for Classes VIII to X this academic year. This means the high school section will function on July 26, August 16, October 4, October 25, January 3, and January 31.

For Classes V to VII, two Saturdays in a week that do not have consecutive six working days will be school days. That is July 26 and October 25 will be working days for upper primary classes.

There will be no additional working days for Classes I to IV this year.

The decision comes in the wake of a High Court directive to the government to re-examine the school academic calendar to ensure adequate instructional hours. A five-member committee that looked into the matter had suggested in its report to the government that the school timings be increased by half an hour a day.