Maharashtra considers changing school timings for pre-primary students from next year

The Maharashtra government is contemplating a change in school timings for students up to Class 2. A committee of experts has been appointed to provide recommendations on this matter. The government believes that children need sufficient sleep and should not be compelled to sleep early.

The state government will decide after receiving the committee's report, which will be implemented from the next academic year, Hindustan Times reported, citing state school education minister Deepak Kesarkar.

The education minister said that a new segment in the education system, encompassing nursery, junior KG, senior KG, Class 1, and Class 2, called pre-primary is coming up with the objective to ensure that students do not have to wake up very early and can get enough sleep. A committee of experts, including pediatricians, has been appointed to recommend evaluate the new proposal of changing the timing of pre-primary segment to 9 am, from 7 am.


This initiative was prompted by a suggestion from Governor Ramesh Bais to alter school timings. Governor Ramesh Bais emphasized the need to adjust school timings to guarantee adequate sleep for students. Speaking at a state education department event, he acknowledged the changing sleep patterns among people. Bais referred to the popular saying that early to bed and early to rise makes a person intelligent. However, nowadays, children stay awake until midnight and have to wake up early for school, resulting in sleep deprivation.

"I would urge officials to ensure that for students to get good sleep in the morning, they should consider changing school timings," the governor said recently at an event. He also said that learning should be fun for students and there should be less emphasis on homework and more emphasis on sports and extracurricular activities.