The water shortage problem in many parts of the state has prompted a teachers’ organisation to demand that the school week be made five days. This demand is in response to the government’s directive to have schools functioning till the end of April. In its letter to the chief minister of Maharashtra, the organisation has said that the water shortage problem, which is only going to increase in April, will make it difficult for schools to function without water especially in regions hit by drought.
According to the Right To Education (RTE) Act that stipulates 220 academic days for class V to VIII and 200 days for class I to IV, the state had issued a notification to schools asking them to have six-day weeks instead of the five-day week being followed by private aided and unaided schools. However, government and local body run schools have six-day weeks, for which the Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad has written to Devendra Fadnavis to relax the rule for all schools due to the water problem.
“In the coming days not only rural but even urban areas will see water cuts being affected due to the water shortage problem. Many municipal corporations like the Thane, Kalyan Dombivali, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai have already announced water cuts the effect of which has been felt by schools too,” said the letter signed by Anil Bornare, chairman of MRSP’s Mumbai north chapter.
