Early Dasara fete for school kids

HYDERABAD: A majority of private and public schools across the twin cities remained closed on Wednesday due to the ongoing Telangana general strike. Most of them, in fact, declared holidays till Sunday fearing disturbances. Though officials clarified that Dasara holidays have not been advanced for government schools, it is learnt that the government was mulling declaration of holidays from Thursday itself instead of from Sept 27.As this is examination time, there was confusion among parents and students. Early this morning, the same scenes were re-enacted at several schools. School authorities were found to be texting parents about the holidays and informing those who had come to school to return home. Most of them, including the Chinmaya Vidyalaya,  post-poned the exams till Monday. International schools, including  Manthan Internationa and Jain Heritage-A Cambridge School, too declared holidays for the students.“Decisions are taken on a day-to-day basis, and we inform parents only in the mornings,” defended Srinivas, an accountant at the Gowtham Model School. Principal TSR Anjaneyulu of the Jupiter High School, on the other hand, extended support to the strike but felt educational institutions could have been exempted. “We close when we are forced to. We cooperate but indefinite shutdown is impractical,” he pointed out.Echoing his views, Ramesh Varma, Principal, Bhashyam Public School, said it was high time there was a law to exempt schools from bandhs. More than the teachers, it was parents who were concerned. “Nowadays, we are sending our children to school with fear. There is uncertainty regarding schools’ functioning and timings. Especially in case of  working parents, it becomes extremely difficult when we are asked to take children at odd hours,” complained Kavitha, a mother of two. Manasa, another lady, wondered, “where do we leave the kids when we go to work? There is no other place apart from school that I can send my child to.” Vinayasheela, Principal of Stanley Girls’ High School, herself a student at the height of the 1969 Telangana struggle, pointed out, “Nobody can give you back what you lose right now.” But Nathanidel, Academic Officer at Stanleys, had some advice for the agitators. “Hold classes on T instead of insisting on shutdowns.”