schools and colleges Summer vacation being rescheduled

Move to avoid classes in Ramazan Summer vacation being rescheduled
KARACHI, May 8: Summer vacation in schools and colleges across the province this year will be observed from July 1 to Aug 31, instead of June 1 to July 31.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the Sindh education department`s steering committee on Saturday.

However, later talking to Dawn , Senior Sindh Minister for Education Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said that since the decision to change the schedule of the summer vacation by one month was a major policy decision, the steering committee`s “recommendation” would be sent to the Sindh chief minister for approval.

According to members of the steering committee, the decision was taken to avoid holding classes in Ramazan, when the teaching duration is reduced by one hour in single-shift schools/colleges and by two hours in double-shift institutions.

Regular classes up to Class X will continue to be held till June 30 while the new academic session for Class XII will begin on June 15 and continue till the commencement of the summer vacation on June 30.

Sources said the provincial director-general of colleges had been directed to ensure that the teaching of Class XII students start on June 15 and in this regard the chairmen of the educational boards of the province would ensure that the Class XI examinations end before June 15.

Earlier, talking to media persons after presiding over the steering committee meeting held in the conference room of the Sindh Assembly, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said the steering committee had received suggestions from civil society and both the government and private sectors that the summer vacation be rescheduled for the convenience of students and their parents. He said that in view of those proposals, the educational institutions would reopen after Eidul Fitr.

Pir Mazhar further said that the steering committee had set up a committee comprising three senior officers of the education department — Secretary in charge of the Sindh Education Department Waseem Ursani, Director of the Private Educational Institutions in Sindh Mansoob Ahmed Siddqui and Chairman of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai — to take on board all O and A level schools regarding the steering committee decision.

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

Curriculum revision

Presiding over the steering committee meeting, the education minister said that a committee had already been formed to revise the 2002 curriculum of Class I to VI. The new curriculum would be called the Curriculum of 2011 and it would be introduced from academic session-2012.

However, the exercise to revise the 2002 curriculum of Class VII to XII would be undertaken next year and the same would be applicable for these classes from academic year-2013.

Pir Mazhar also informed the meeting that the education department with a view to encouraging girls education had decided to appoint only female teachers in primary schools.Dawn