BJP MLC Malka Komaraiah Urges Telangana To Adopt Five-Day School Week

BJP MLC Malka Komaraiah has urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to introduce a five-day working week for schools across Telangana, citing rising temperatures, the possible impact of El Nino and increasing pressure on water resources.

In a representation submitted to the Chief Minister on November 7, Komaraiah proposed that schools operate from Monday to Friday, with Saturday declared a holiday as a temporary measure. He said the move could serve as a precautionary step in view of the changing climatic conditions and the need to conserve essential resources.

The MLC highlighted several benefits of adopting the proposed schedule. Reducing one working day each week would help lower water consumption in schools, particularly drinking water usage. It would also contribute to electricity savings by reducing the use of fans, lights and digital boards on Saturdays.

He further pointed out that keeping schools closed on Saturdays would reduce the movement of school buses and other vehicles, helping ease traffic congestion and curb vehicular pollution.

Komaraiah also stressed that an additional day of rest could benefit students during periods of extreme heat and adverse weather conditions. According to him, the proposed arrangement would provide children with more time to recover while supporting their health and overall well-being.

Addressing concerns over the possible loss of instructional hours, he suggested extending school hours by 35 to 40 minutes from Monday to Friday. The additional time would help compensate for the classes missed on Saturdays, ensuring that the prescribed syllabus is completed without affecting academic standards or students' learning outcomes.

The MLC requested the state government to examine the proposal and consider implementing the five-day school schedule as a temporary arrangement, keeping students' welfare and environmental concerns in mind.