Pune: Maharashtra Education Department Implements New 9 am Start for Primary School Students
Pune, 9th February 2024: The Maharashtra state education department has issued a directive specifying new morning timings for children attending playschools, nursery, junior and senior kindergarten, up to Class 4.
According to the directive, students are required to be in their classrooms only at 9 am or later. It’s important to note that these timings do not apply to daycare centers operated by pre-schools.
Currently, most schools operate during the morning hours from 7 am.
The directive follows a December event where Governor Ramesh Bais advocated for allowing children sufficient sleep. In response, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) sought feedback from education experts, teachers, and parents.
The education department’s circular highlighted that parents overwhelmingly supported the adjustment in timings. In their feedback, parents expressed concerns about their children’s lack of enthusiasm for studies due to insufficient sleep. Additionally, the task of preparing lunches and dropping children off at school in the early morning was cited as a challenge by participating parents.
The circular further explained that students often go to bed late, citing factors such as noise pollution from honking and loud music. Parents emphasized that students wake up feeling tired, which subsequently impacts their physical and mental health. The feedback also noted difficulties in getting children to school early during monsoon and winter, contributing to increased illness among students.
