• Source:JND
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Kolkata School Holidays: State schools in West Bengal are adjusting their holiday schedules by reducing summer vacation days while increasing holidays for Durga Puja. Primary students will now have a nine-day summer break, while secondary students will receive an 11-day vacation.

According to a Times of India report, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education and the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education have issued new holiday lists reflecting these changes, with both groups of students granted a 25-day holiday for Durga Puja.

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This decision has prompted strong opposition from some teachers, who argue that the state government typically declares earlier summer breaks due to extreme heat. School leaders have expressed concerns that the new schedule, which introduces a holistic report card in the next academic session, could lead to challenges in assessments due to the imbalance between planned and unplanned holidays.

Teachers' unions have also voiced their objections. A Times of India report quoted Animesh Haldar, district secretary of the Secondary Teachers and Employees Association, as stating that recent years have seen summer breaks extend to 30-45 days, and he called for a return to the previous 85-day vacation. Chandan Maiti, general secretary of the Advanced Society for Headmasters and Headmistresses, stated that this disparity is harmful to the education system and overlooks the needs of students, teachers and parents.

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In separate news, the West Bengal Council for Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has revised the syllabus for several subjects in Classes 11 and 12, effective from the next academic year. The changes, based on feedback from stakeholders, affect subjects like English, Bengali, History, Economics and more.

These revisions will be included in the upcoming 4th edition of the syllabus book and model question papers. Current Class 11 Semester 2 students are not affected. The deadline for online enrollment for the HS Exam 2025 has been extended to December 21, 2024. HS practical exams are ongoing and will end on December 20, 2024.