HYDERABAD: A photo with a caption on the need for change in school timings, especially for young children, tagged to minister
K T Rama Rao's
Twitter account, drew huge response from not only from the minister, but also from the twitterati on the micro-blogging platform.
The minister, who promptly responded to the photo, said he was against school going children being shoved into a 'pressure cooker environment' and that they need to enjoy a normal childhood.
A Twitter user, Suren Pantulu, tagged a picture of a school boy in uniform with a roti in his pocket and is in sleepy mood during morning prayer in the school. The tweet reads “Morning breakfast in the pocket. Sleep--in complete--school timings Y not 10.00 am to 5.30 pm."
KTR retweeted saying “I agree completely. That's a picture that just breaks your heart. Children need a childhood & not this sort of a pressure cooker environment.“ Both the original tweet and the retweet by KTR sparked an online debate over school timings.
A woman, Shanta Dubey, suggested that for elementary sections, schools timings should be from 10 am to 3 pm and for higher sections 10 am to 4 pm. Lakshmi Madhavi said she supports child rights and this is age to enjoy but not to take pressure.
Another Twitter user Usha Gowri said: “KTR you have power to change it," while Amit Bajaj said it (school timings) should be given a serious thought. Some people contradicted late schools and said in UAE and Saudi Arabia, schools begin at 7 am.