Just three months into the academic year and already, seven days have been lost due to strikes and bandhs.
The state government is contemplating cutting short Dasara holidays for its schools, while private institutions have already begun or are gearing up to work full days on Saturdays to make up for the lost class hours.
Four working days were lost in July this year due to the strike by the state transport corporation employees. Besides, the government had declared holidays for schools on July 30 (bandh call on the Mahadayi issue), September 2 (trade union strike) and September 9 (bandh call on the Cauvery issue).
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait said a final decision on cutting short Dasara holidays for government schools will be taken at a meeting of Karnataka State Advisory Council, an apex body to decide on educational policies and programmes, scheduled to be held later this month.
Government schools were to go on Dasara vacation from October 9 to 27. "It looks like we have no option but to cut short the 20-day Dasara vacation by a few days. The Council will decide on the number of days to be cut by September-end," Sait said.
Karnataka Associated Managements of English Medium Schools (KAMS) general secretary D Shashikumar said the organisation has already directed its member institutions to hold full day classes on Saturdays to compensate the loss of school hours. KAMShas more than 1,900 schools under its belt.
Shashikumar pointed out while schools across the state lost seven working days due to strikes and bandhs, institutions in Mysuru, Mandya, Dharwad, Gadag and Belagavi had lost more than one week due to the Cauvery and Mahadayi agitations. KAMSwill plan a separate schedule for schools in these districts.
Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi said colleges can conduct special classes to make up for the lost days.
"Academic Councils of various universities can decide whether to effect any changes in the calendar of events," he said.
The state government is contemplating cutting short Dasara holidays for its schools, while private institutions have already begun or are gearing up to work full days on Saturdays to make up for the lost class hours.
Four working days were lost in July this year due to the strike by the state transport corporation employees. Besides, the government had declared holidays for schools on July 30 (bandh call on the Mahadayi issue), September 2 (trade union strike) and September 9 (bandh call on the Cauvery issue).
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait said a final decision on cutting short Dasara holidays for government schools will be taken at a meeting of Karnataka State Advisory Council, an apex body to decide on educational policies and programmes, scheduled to be held later this month.
Government schools were to go on Dasara vacation from October 9 to 27. "It looks like we have no option but to cut short the 20-day Dasara vacation by a few days. The Council will decide on the number of days to be cut by September-end," Sait said.
Karnataka Associated Managements of English Medium Schools (KAMS) general secretary D Shashikumar said the organisation has already directed its member institutions to hold full day classes on Saturdays to compensate the loss of school hours. KAMShas more than 1,900 schools under its belt.
Shashikumar pointed out while schools across the state lost seven working days due to strikes and bandhs, institutions in Mysuru, Mandya, Dharwad, Gadag and Belagavi had lost more than one week due to the Cauvery and Mahadayi agitations. KAMSwill plan a separate schedule for schools in these districts.
Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi said colleges can conduct special classes to make up for the lost days.
"Academic Councils of various universities can decide whether to effect any changes in the calendar of events," he said.