Kerala schools to hold educational sessions on holidays

The Department of General Education in Kerala is changing how schools celebrate important national days, such as Independence Day and Republic Day. Instead of traditional festivities like flag hoisting and sweet distribution, schools will focus on educational sessions that teach students about the history and struggles of independence. This new approach aims to turn these significant days into valuable learning experiences rather than holidays. By integrating these events into the academic calendar, the department hopes to keep students engaged in meaningful activities. This strategy also seeks to meet the required number of instructional days for schools. A committee is looking at ways to ensure schools have 220 working days in a year. Currently, most schools have around 195 working days. The Khader Committee previously suggested using important days for teaching instead of giving students days off. Under current guidelines, younger classes need 200 working days, while upper classes require 220. The Right to Education Act regulates these standards for up to class VIII. To achieve the required days, the government is exploring various options, such as using Saturdays for academic purposes or extending the school day by half an hour to gain more study days. There is also a proposal to organize sports festivals on Saturdays, further increasing learning opportunities.