It’s FULL-DAY CLASSES for Next 10 Saturdays for Schools in DK starting 24 August
Mangaluru: If children or their parents have made plans for an outing, shopping, movies or any other engagements in the afternoons during the next 10 Saturdays, you are all out of luck-since the Department of Public Instruction has decided to hold FULL-DAY CLASSES on Saturdays for next 10 Saturdays for schools in Dakshina Kannada commencing from 24 August, in order to compensate for classes missed during rain holidays issued by District Administration.
During this monsoon season, five taluks in DK who were hit by heavy rains/floods, five holidays had been declared due to incessant rain. Y Shivaramaiah, the DDPI of DK speaking to media had said, “We have decided to conduct full-day classes for 10 Saturdays to compensate for the loss of classes so far. The decision has been taken after discussion with DC Sasikanth Senthil. The similar exercise was held last year also when holidays were declared during heavy rain”.
The circular from the Department of Public Instruction also stated that those children who can’t make it to schools due to damage of road or collapse of bridges shouldn’t be forced to attend classes. They should be given on holidays till the situation is normal. Children who are suffering from health issues due to the weather should no be sent to school until they are fully recovered. The circular also stated that classes in all flood-affected schools must be conducted only after thorough inspection from rural development/Panchayati Raj engineer. Classes can be conducted only after obtaining a fitness certificate from engineers.
Sources reveal that the floods in DK have damaged over 100 government schools, with most of them partially damaged. In some areas, floodwater had entered the classrooms, but now they are cleaned and classes have commenced. Most of the damages to these schools are like- damage to the roof top, broken tiles, wall or retaining walls collapse, furniture damage, among others. The highest damage to schools is reported in taluks like Belthangady, Sullia, Puttur and Bantwal.