Too many rain holidays may cut short Dasara vaction

• DDPI has the power to cancel holidays to balance normal working days

Mangaluru: Students are missing out classes due to the precautionary rain holidays issued by the district administration because of the intermittent heavy rains lashing the coastal districts of Mangaluru and Udupi. These additional holidays are adversely affecting the students’ education and thus the department of Public Instruction may cut short Dasara vacation to help school’s complete the syllabus.

Since August 14^th, as a precautionary measure the Dakshina Kannada district administration has announced eight rain holidays this year. Also, some taluks like Belthangady, Puttur and Sullia have declared holidays independently to schools depending on the rain situation in their respective taluks, apart from the eight rain holidays.

“There are chances that holidays may be further declared if rains increase. The department is mulling to cut 15 days of the Dasara vacation to make up for the lost classes. There is a provision in clause number 4 as per the Department of Public Instruction’s holiday notification. It says the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) has the power to cancel holidays to balance normal working days in case of bundh or any other reason,” said DK DDPI Y Shivaramaiah.

The clause further states that every school operates for 240 days in an academic year and has to compulsorily operate for 220 days. Hence, vacations are likely to be cut and extra classes may also be held on Saturdays if need arises, he added.

The Pre-University Education department are also discussing on whether to cut vacations or organize special classes to make up for the lost time.