The GR states that for schools where it is absolutely indispensable to change timings, they can discuss the issues with local education officers and take required decisions accordingly.
Pre-primary and primary classes in Maharashtra will not be held before 9am from the academic year 2024-’25. State school education department on Thurs-day issued a Government Resolu-tion instructing all schools, irrespective of the board of affiliation, to conduct classes of pre-primary to class 4 from 9 am or later.
Stating that this is the need of the hour considering changed lifestyles, the GR points out inadequate sleep causing physical and mental health issues to children, due to late nights.
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In December 2023, Governor Ramesh Bais had suggested a change in school timing, while inaugurating various schemes launched by the school education department. “Everyone’s sleep timings have changed in recent times. Many children are awake even after midnight. Yet they have to wake up early to attend school. This results in inadequate sleep for children that calls for changes in school timings,” he had said.
Acknowledging the aspects pointed out by the Governor, the GR states, “Considering the changed lifestyles, various modern entertainment devices and a city life that continues with all kinds of noises till late in the night; children along with people at large are sleeping late. This is causing a negative effect on their physical and mental health.”
The GR also talks about struggles of parents for early morning school, including travel woes during fog and rain.
The move has, however, irked stakeholders, including parents. president of India Wide Parents Association, Anubha Sahay, said, “Early morning school is preferred by many considering their own work timings. Also, because it gives children ample time after school to rest and take part in extra-curricular activities. School timing is completely a decision to be taken by the school and parents. The state should not interfere.”
Stating that parents do insist on early timing so that children can go to school before they go to office, Dr Swati Popat, president of Early Childhood Association and Association for Primary Education and Research, said, “What if the school timing is 8.30am and all the bus and other logistics like second shift, etc., are in place? Will a leeway of 30 minutes be allowed.”
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Change in timing would impact on day-to-day functioning of schools, said Kavita Agarwal, chairperson of Members of International School Association (MISA), adding, “School timings are bringing discipline to children. Government should instead encourage parents to ensure that their children sleep early.”
She also pointed out that some schools have multiple sessions of pre-primary classes which are only for 2-3 hours and thus are required to start early.
According to the GR, the decision is a result of the study conducted by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) by inviting suggestions from various stakeholders, including educationists and parents.
“If there was a survey why it was not in public domain and nobody knows about it,” questioned Sahay.
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Stating that this decision does not impact government and aided schools, which already have pre-primary and primary classes after 10am, Mahendra Ganapule, spokesperson for Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, said, “In case of school timings, the regulation cannot be one that fits all. It is based on local conditions and parents’ requirements. And that is why there are several private schools running with different timings.”
The GR states that for schools where it is absolutely indispensable to change timings, they can discuss the issues with local education officers and take required decisions accordingly.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting.
Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive:
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized.
Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families.
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