At present, the majority of schools in Bengaluru begin at 8.30 am. These timings are likely to be set an hour or 30 minutes sooner
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Parents and school administrations have raised their concerns regarding changing the school timing to an hour or so earlier could worsen their physical and emotional health
The Bengaluru school timing change meeting, which was scheduled for today, October 5, has been rescheduled for October 9, with a decision expected following the meeting. Parents and students must note that the school timings will remain unchanged until the meeting’s verdict is made known on October 9.
To minimise traffic congestion, the Karnataka government plans to make minor changes to Bengaluru school timings. The implementation and other concerns linked to the change in school timings will be taken into consideration by the State Education Department and other officials.
At present, the majority of schools in Bengaluru begin at 8.30 am. These timings are likely to be set an hour or 30 minutes sooner. It is expected that the decision to set school timings earlier will result in less congestion on the roads during high-traffic times.
Parents, private transportation organisations, and school administrations have raised their concerns and claimed that changing school hours will have consequences for students. The decision to move school hours forward will have a significant impact on students’ mental health as well as various other factors.
Any changes in school times, according to Shashi Kumar D, general secretary of the Associated Management of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), are likely to make matters worse for parents and students. A modification in schedule making school timings earlier might force parents to cut short their and their children’s sleep, which could worsen their physical and emotional health.
Kumar further noted that if the school hours are changed, not only parents or children would be inconvenienced, but also various stakeholders such as school management, teaching, and non-teaching employees. Like parents, school administrators and other staff members will need to get started early, which will place a lot of strain on them. This also means that teachers and other members of the staff would be obliged to be at schools before students, which would be further inconvenient and perhaps harmful to their mental as well as physical well-being.
In order to address this issue, the Karnataka Education Department will also hold a meeting with the Association of Private Schools, the Association of School Vehicles, and parents.