Hyderabad parents criticise half-day holiday for schools

Several school parents argue that a complete holiday would have made sense given the very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall forecast in the entire State

Hyderabad: The State government’s decision to declare a half-day holiday for schools in response to very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall forecast in GHMC area on August 13 and 14 triggered a sharp criticism from several parents who argue that the move creates more problems that it solves.

Parents, particularly those working, wanted the government to announce a complete holiday for all schools. With a half-day holiday, parents said they will be forced to juggle between their work schedules and the school to pick up their children mid-day.

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Further, unpredictability of weather conditions in the city are giving more anxiety to parents. Parents fear that their wards may be caught in the rain and heavy traffic congestion, leading up to several kilometres, while returning home.

“A complete holiday would have made sense. What if it rains around 12 noon or just before the school ends? Parents will be stuck at their workplace and children in their school,” said K Venkat Sainath, Joint Secretary, Hyderabad School Parents Association.

Given the weather’s unpredictability, some parents chose to keep their children at home and decided not to take the risk for a half-day school.

“While my younger daughter goes by school bus, I pick and drop my elder daughter. Since my wife and I are working, we have decided not to send my kids to school as half-day school time is not convenient,” said K Mallikarjun, a parent.

In an order issued on Tuesday, School Education department Director Naveen Nicolas had declared a complete holiday for schools in some districts and a half-day holiday in the GHMC area on August 13 and 14. This comes after the India Meteorological department issued an alert of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in some isolated places in the State.

Both government and private schools in Hanamkonda, Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Warangal and Yadadri districts were given a closed holiday on August 13 and 14. However, all schools in GHMC areas had been directed to operate in the morning shift, with a half-day holiday on both days.

Meanwhile, for several school students this change in the schedule turned into an extended weekend. With Independence Day falling on Friday, August 15, followed by the second Saturday and Sunday being holidays, students now have a three-day break ahead.