No order yet on extending summer holidays, teachers left in limbo

Jaipur: Govt school teachers remain uncertain about when schools will reopen as the education department has not issued an official order extending summer vacation, despite a statement from the education minister's office saying holidays will run until June 29.

Under the academic calendar, schools are scheduled to reopen on June 22, but teachers report they are still being assigned work during the break, underscoring the administrative confusion and raising concerns about planning for staff and students.

A formal order is yet to be issued, though education minister Madan Dilawar reached an agreement with teachers' representatives under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh, Rajasthan, and an agreement document was issued to reopen schools on June 29 instead of June 21 and restore the earlier provision of two holidays for heads of institutions.

Vipin Prakash Sharma, state president of Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers' Association, said, “While orders are being issued for teachers to keep school premises and surroundings ready for the plantation drive by June 20, which is amid summer vacations, no clarity is being issued regarding the extension of the summer vacation. Teachers are being made to do the work that no one else can do, and our requests are not being heard.”

Ranjeet Meena, state president of Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Ekikrit), said, “When the decision of the current academic session being started from April 1 was discussed, all teacher organisations were invited for consultations, but regarding the decision on holidays — following protests by all teachers — only one organisation was called in, a decision was reached surreptitiously.”

He questioned the delay in releasing an official order if an agreement was reached.