APPENDIX U SCHOOL HOURS AND HOLIDAYS

School hours and holidays.

Vacations, holidays and hours of work in schools and colleges vary widely in a country like India with its climatic contrasts and varied local conditions.

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The following points are placed before the Board for their consideration:-

1. That there are perhaps far too many holidays based on noneducational considerations in addition to vacations.

2. That certain adjustment in vacations and holidays may be desirable on educational grounds subject to local conditions.

3. That with a view to increase the optimum output of work in schools of all types school hours may be so planned as to guard against undue fatigue among pupils.

4. That the hours of work in rural areas. especially, in the primary and middle stages may be in harmony. as far as practicable with normal home life and seasonal pursuits of the people.

5. That in determining the duration of school hours climatic conditions may be taken into consideration.

A considerable amount of scientific investigation has been carried out in these aspects of school life in Western countries and it is possible that the result% of those investigations, may with such modifications as local conditions may demand. be profitably applied to schools in may this country.

        
                Information collected from Provincial Education Codes.
        
                                          
Name of Province Type of No. of Holidays. Hours of work REMARKS Institutions Assam Primary 45 days excluding Village Sundays. schools may grant up to 68 days if children are required to work in fields. Middle 66 days excluding Sundays. High 76 days excluding Sundays. 165 days including Colleges Sundays. Bengal Primary,Middle 85 days excluding 7 Hindu festivals and High Sundays. and 12 Muham madan festivals. Bihar Recognized High 87 days excluding Schools. Sundays. Aided Schools Prescribed from time to time as the department prescribes. Bombay High 42 days in Summer 5 hours for 5 days and 21 days dur- in the week and 3 ing Diwali. hours for one day in the week. C. P. and Vernacular and 60 days in Sum- 5 hours of study. Berar A. V. Schools. mer and 10 days during Diwali. N. W. F. P. High & Middle 42 days in Sum- High--30 mer and 10 days per week. in March or April. Primary 2 vacations not ex. I Class-15hrs. ceeding 42 days. II & Special per- III " -21 " iods for IV " -24 " vacations per week. among hill tribes

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Name of Province Type of No. of Holidays. Hours of work REMARKS Institutions Punjab Primary 2 vacations not ex- I class-16 hrs. ceeding 49 days. II and III class-19hrs. IV " -24 per week High 60 day from end 30 hours per of July. week. Lower Sind High 42 days in Sum- mer and 28 days in winter; and Sundays. Upper Sind High 56 days in Sum- mer and 21 days in Winter, and Sundays. Primary 4 hours a day. U. P. Middle & High 49 days in Summer 5 hours for 6 day and 7 days in in the week & Christmas. 4 hours in April May and July. Baluchistan Primary In Winter areas 56 I class- 16 hours. days in Winter II & and 7 days in III " -19 Summer. IV " -24 per week. High In Summer areas 30 hours weekly. 56 days in Sum- mer.

NOTE.-The figures given are approximate.