Is it a good idea to shift the summer vacation from the April-May period to the rainy months of June-July? This question was posed by Kerala's school education minister, V Sivankutty, on Facebook on Thursday.
Sivankutty opened the floor for discussion after observing that classes are regularly obstructed due to the heavy showers that Kerala receives during June and July. If children were to have their vacations during these months, the issue of losing working days to inclement weather could be avoided.
According to the minister, the heatwave threat posed by the April-May period is another reason for the rethinking. He also mentioned that shifting the vacation to May-June is on the table.
The CPI(M) leader asked the public to share their views in the comment section for his office to review. "The idea of a May-June holiday is also being considered. We would like to hear your valuable opinions and suggestions on this topic. What are the potential pros and cons of implementing this change? How would it affect the studies and health of children? How practical would this be for teachers and parents? How can we model our holiday arrangements on those in other states and countries?" the minister said.
The poll garnered mixed reactions on Facebook. Many pointed out that confining children to classrooms without air conditioning during April and May could be a form of torture. Others pointed out that having holidays during the rainy season is risky for children. They could either end up becoming 'couch potatoes' as the rain might keep them indoors, or they could become victims of accidents involving water bodies and puddles.
Yet others opined that it is ideal to split the holidays into a month-each break across the academic calendar.