Extension of Dasara holidays strongly opposed

Hyderabad: The government's decision to extend Dasara vacations till October 19 is leading to a row with various teachers' associations, students associations and even parent associations expressing strong opposition.

Joint Action Committee of Teachers Organisations (JACTO) said this move was aimed at destabilising the RTC strike. G Sadanandam Goud, E Raghunandan and M Radhakrishna of JACTO were also critical of the government's decision making second Saturday a working day to compensate the one week extension of holidays.

Government's rigid stand on RTC strike leading to extension of holidays will affect lakhs of students in the State, stated members of Telangana Rashtra Ikya Upadhaya Federation, which is a body comprising various teachers associations including TSUTF.

TPTF Hyderabad unit president M Ravinder stated that more number of holidays would affect the academic schedule and would prove to be a disadvantage for students.

Madhusudhan Rao and Mahipal Reddy of Secondary Grade Teachers Union (SGTU), Telangana felt that extension of holidays was not desirable and would seriously affect the education standards. They suggested government to take steps to address the RTC strike issue instead of extending holidays.

N Narayana and P Lakshmaiah of Telangana Parents Association (TPA) felt holidays extension decision was not the right one.