Let children spend holidays with parents: Rights panels moot ban on vacation classes

All children, including students of residential schools must enjoy their vacations, as envisaged in the Kerala Education Rules 1959: SHRC
The Principal Secretary of General Education should formulate clear guidelines regarding summer camps and workshops in schools.
The vacation classes in schools cannot replace the invaluable experiences of spending the vacation with family.

Let children spend holidays with parents Rights panels ban vacation classes

Observing that classes in schools can never replace the invaluable experiences of spending time with parents during summer holidays, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSPCR) has directed the govt. to ban vacation classes. The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) also directed the government to take necessary steps to stop CBSE and ICSE schools from holding classes during the height of summer. The commissions found that the schools were violating the rights of children and norms laid down in Kerala Education Rules 1959 by denying them the joys of holidaying.

The vacation spent with the family, friends and relatives gives the children the opportunity to enhance their capacity to mingle with others and their ability for social interventions. It would also stimulate their innate talents. The vacation classes in schools cannot replace the invaluable experiences of spending the vacation with family. The commission asked the Principal Secretary to send a report on the progress of implementation of the order in ten days.

All children, including students of residential schools must enjoy their vacations, as envisaged in the Kerala Education Rules 1959, the SHRC noted. The KSPCR also took the same position and directed the state education department to strictly implement its order banning vacation classes. It also pointed to the problems faced by children because of acute water shortage.

The commission had ordered in February this year that the schools should ensure water availability during summer. But many schools are not adhering to the order, it regretted. The Commission asked the Principal Secretary of General Education to issue clear guidelines regarding conduct of summer camps and workshops in schools. These guidelines should be applicable to all schools, including the aided and un-aided institutions.

The KSPCR and the SHRC had received numerous complaints against vacation classes conducted in the height of summer.

Last Updated Mar 31, 2018, 7:03 PM IST