parents and Students confused as holidays rescheduled

Students confused as holidays rescheduled
Karachi:The government’s announcement that the summer vacation will start from July, and not June, has sparked mixed reactions among parents, teachers and students. parents
Senior Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq said on Saturday that that the schools and colleges in the province will be closed for the summer vacation in the months of July and August, instead of June and July. He was talking to journalists after presiding over a meeting of the steering committee of his department where the decision was taken.

According to the education minister, they had received requests from authorities and the general public that the summer vacations should be rescheduled so that the upcoming month of Ramazan falls during the holidays.

“Keeping these suggestions in mind, the committee decided that the summer vacation will be observed from July 1 to August 31, 2011. The schools and colleges will reopen after the Eidul Fitar,” said the minister.

“The last-minute and, frankly speaking, pointless decision of the government has not only confused us but also the school administration,” said 14-year-old Ammar Siddiqui, a student of Links Secondary School.

According to him, the year’s curriculum has already been completed as planned so “what is the point of making us return to school after our final examinations?”.

Also, many students have already planned their summer vacations, including domestic and international travels, and a lot of people would have to cancel their tickets and rearrange their much anticipated summer holidays.

“I had made up my mind. I had arranged everything according to the previous schedule. Now, I’ve to undo everything. Why does our government announce such important things at the last minute,” said an agitated Hasan, an intermediate student.

“I think it’s a good decision. Going to school and listening to lectures with an empty stomach is quite a painful experience,” said a high school student, Umair, who seemed to be thrilled by the announcement. “During Ramazan, we stay up late in the night and play cricket. So, I won’t have to wake up early in the morning to go to school.”

However, Ammar disagrees. “In my opinion, the government has more to worry about, like the recent killing of Osama bin Laden in its military’s backyard; not to mention educating its underprivileged masses. They should focus more on social welfare and less on the Ramzan realities of schools catering to the country’s very small elite,” Ammar added.

A committee was also formed to take on board all the ‘O’ and ‘A’ level schools on the rescheduled vacation. The body comprises Acting Secretary Education Waeem Ursani, Director Private Institutions Mansoob Ahmed Siddqui and Chairman Board of Intermediate Education Karachi Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai.

He said that the chairmen of the all educational boards of Karachi had assured him that they would complete the examination process in May.

The steering committee also discussed others issues about improving the quality of education and training the teaching faculty.The news