LUCKNOW: The intense hot conditions ahead of time and consistent rise in temperatures pose a risk to children's health and have consequently led to a change in timings of all state-run schools across Uttar Pradesh. All the schools run by UP Basic Education Council will now operate from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm, till the summer holidays start.
The prayer and yoga time has been fixed at 10 minutes (till 7.40am) and the recess from 10am to 10.15am.
Fresh directives issued by UPBEC secretary Pratap Singh Baghel state that a minimum of 200 days and 800 hours of teaching is compulsory for primary schools (from class 1 to 5) while 220 days and 1,000 hours is mandatory for upper primary schools (from class 6 to 8).
Teachers, however, will stay back till 1.30pm to complete administrative works like conducting household survey, enrolment drive under School Chalo Abhiyan, activities under Operation Kayakalp, and updating the Manav Sampada portal etc.
Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the academic activities for two consecutive sessions - 2019-20 and 2020-21. In the academic session 2021-22, only 133 days and 141 days of teaching was done in primary and upper primary schools due to Covid cases, Baghel said.
The order says that teachers must ensure a minimum 45 hours of teaching that includes preparation time as well.
"As per RTE norms, teachers spend six hours in school with usual timings. With six days a week, they get 36 hours of teaching time. Since almost a decade, the government has kept it at 45 hours, which is unrealistic," said Pramendra Shukla, state head of block education officers (BEOs).
The basic education officers (BSAs) have been directed to ensure timely transfer of money into the bank accounts of parents for purchase of school uniform, shoes, socks, school bag and sweater.
