Goa board schools shift to April start for first time from today

Panaji: For the first time, schools affiliated to the Goa board will shift from the traditional June start of the academic year to April for the new session of 2025-26, which begins on Monday.
The schedule change is part of the National Education Policy’s implementation in the state.
Most schools have told students of classes VI to X and Class XII to report from 7.55am to 11.30am up to April 30. A majority of the school timetables accommodate five subject periods with a 20-minute tiffin break.
While a few schools have decided to end classes early for the first couple of days to help students adjust to the new schedule, others have decided to utilise the hours up to 11.30am for teaching.
A group of parents opposing the change in the academic schedule will protest outside the directorate of education at Porvorim on Monday.
“Our primary school exams are still on. However, classes for the new academic year will be conducted for classes VI to X and Class XII for 1,000-odd students,” said Vijai Sardesai, the chairperson of the management of Shantadurga High School, Bicholim.
Sardesai added, “We will hold classes from 8.30am to 11.30am. Our timetable has already been prepared. We will have longer classes and will be able to fit in three periods for students of higher classes.”
He went on to say, “For younger children, the classes will be of a shorter duration and we will be able to fit in five periods at least. We will give them a 20-minute break between classes. After the initial introductions, we expect everything to regularise by Wednesday.”
Our Lady of Rosary High School, Dona Paula, has informed students that classes will be held from 7.55am to 11.30am from April 7 and report cards will be handed on April 30.
“Parents of our school’s students are all geared up for the new academic year. Nobody has any issues. We have made all arrangements and are ready to receive students for the new year,” said Prashant Naik of Shree Nirakar Education Society, which runs five schools in Canacona taluka, with a combined strength of around 1,000 students.
While some parents raised objections to Class V students being called for classes, schools have clarified that as this is the new academic year, these students are entering Class VI.
Some schools have called primary school students too for classes during this period in April, for those who require remedial teaching.
One primary school at Sao Jose de Areal, one at Panchawadi, one at Colva, and one at Aldona have called students to attend classes in April, stating that they are completing the instructional days for the previous academic year.
“Students of classes I to IV are hereby informed to come to school from April 5 to 12 to make up for the school instructional days for the academic year 2024-25,” the school at Panchawadi said in its notice to parents. The notice added, “On Saturday, students will be sent home at 11am and from Monday at 11.30am.”
Rosary High School, Cujira, has said it will have classes till 10.30am on the first day and textbooks will be distributed to students of classes VI to VIII.
Some parents said when they informed school heads that they would not send their children to school in April due to the heat, the school heads were cooperative and only wanted that in writing.
However, other parents said schools have warned of “fines” for missing school.
“The school usually follows this policy of fining students who remain absent on the first day of school or the last day before the vacation,” said a parent from Bardez.
Fatima High School, Margao, has said that on the first two days, school will end at 9.30am and from April 10 to 30, classes will be held till 11.30am.
Some schools holding classes in two sessions have called students from 7.20am to 11.15am and from 12.50pm to 4.15pm.
A parent of a student of St Mary’s Convent High School, Mapusa, said that a PTA meeting was called on April 5 and it was decided not to send children to school in April.
“I am completely unhappy with this decision. The Goa Board public exams have been advanced citing heat and the IMD has come out with a heat warning, but they have decided to start schools for younger children in April,” said a parent of three from Porvorim, Prasad Harmalkar.
He added, “I will not send my children to school on health grounds. We have prepared a letter which we will give to the school, citing our reasons. It is another way of silently boycotting the autocratic decision.”