Pune schools in a tizzy with center's directive to reopen on Nov 11

The Central government’s surprise directive to the state government to reopen all schools on November 11, three clear days before the scheduled start, has thrown most city schools in a tizzy.

Most principals interviewed by DNA on Saturday were not aware of the Central government directive and expressed anxiety that the sudden change would cause confusion.

The new diktat follows a decision taken by the Centre and subsequent instructions to state governments to reopen schools on November 11 to observe National Education Day.

In a letter to the state government, the Centre said that a nationwide campaign ‘Shikshan Ka Haq Abhiyaan’ would be launched on November 11 to implement the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Prime minister Manmohan Singh has drafted a letter to be read out to students across primary schools during the morning assembly on this day.

“We have already dispatched copies of the instructions and letter to primary schools in the city stating that they have to reopen on November 11. They are expected to carry out cultural activities to observe National Education Day,” said primary education officer (Pune), MR Kadam.

Meanwhile, principals seem to be clueless about the decision and said it would create confusion, as they were scheduled to reopen on November 14.

“We have no clue about it yet as I was out of town. If this is true, we will have to act fast,” said Kamini Saxena, principal of Kalmadi Shamrao Primary School.

Ahilyadevi Girls School principal, Tillotama Reddy, was caught in a fix as she is supposed to go on a school trip to Kerala with 13 teachers and 130 students on November 11.

“It will be difficult to inform students as many of them might still be on holiday or in villages. We were supposed to reopen on November 14, but if an official circular or instructions come to us, we will get all our school machinery working and see to it that the programme takes place,” she said.

Symbiosis School principal, Leena Chaudhary said her school was reopening on November 11, but had no idea of any letter to be read out at the morning assembly or special arrangements to be made.