Chhattisgarh Schools Revamp Saturday Schedule: Concerns Raised by Teachers

In a historic move, the Chhattisgarh government has revised the schedule for schools on Saturdays, introducing changes to both the timing and the day’s activities. The shift involves moving yoga and exercise from the morning to the afternoon, following the lunch break. Originally, schools were open on Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM; now, the hours are 10 AM to 4 PM. Chandra Shekhar Tiwari, the state executive president of the Chhattisgarh School Teachers’ Association, points out that the decision to hold school in the morning on Saturdays was made after careful consideration of its benefits, especially for physical education and yoga, which foster balance between the body and mind. Jitendra Sharma, the state media in-charge of the Chhattisgarh School Teachers’ Association, notes that the new schedule, which starts at 10 am, is neither healthy nor practical. The teachers also believe that it hinders the comprehensive development of children, thus, they want to continue the earlier practice of conducting schools in the morning hours.