Students in Hyderabad protest 12-hour school day
What's the story
Students of a private school in Hyderabad have made incredible claims. They say the Gowtham Model School, where they study, conduct classes for 12 hours a day, from 6:30am-6:30pm.
A few days ago, they protested against the school management over the gruelling hours.
However, principal Narasimharaju insists the official timings are much less, and some parents themselves come to pick up their children late.
Protest
No free time from 5:30am to 11:30pm, students allege
Students said they have to wake up at 5:30am to reach school by 6:30am and attend classes till 6:30pm.
"Then we have to go to tutorials and complete our homework, following which we go to bed by 11.30pm. We aren't getting enough sleep," said Rohit.
They also alleged Gowtham charges Rs. 500 as SSC examination fee, which has actually been fixed at Rs. 125.
School
Principal denies allegations, says parents come late to take children
However, Narasimharaju denies the allegations. Deccan Chronicle quotes him as saying: "We conduct classes from 7.30am-6.30pm (with a 30-minute break). We make them do homework within the school timings."
TOI reported him as saying, "Since parents of few children come to pick them up late by 6pm, we insist them to stay back on campus for security reasons."
Schools
State School Education Department's new academic calendar drew criticism too
The State School Education Department's academic calendar for this session has also drawn massive flak.
It says government high schools should run from 9:30am-4:45pm instead of 8:45am-4pm.
Government upper primary schools have to function from 9am-4:15pm and primary schools from 9am-4pm.
This caused major trouble for parents as they have to leave for office by 9:30am.
Other schools in Hyderabad apparently run from 8:45am-4pm.