Pre-poll promise fulfilled, Mizoram introduces new school timing

Aizawl: As a part of fulfilling its pre-poll promises, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) government led by chief minister Zoramthanga has introduced new school timing to replace the existing timing introduced by the then Congress government led by Lal Thanhawla in 2015, according to which school hours begin at 8 am and end at 2 pm.

The new school timing, that starts at 9 am and ends at 3 pm, will come into effect from the new academic session 2019-2020.

In its poll promises made before the state assembly elections in November last year, the MNF had said that it would introduce new school timing keeping in view the social tradition of the Mizos, if voted to power.

A notification issued by school education commissioner and secretary Esther Lalruatkimi said that school hours as per the proposed new timing has been scheduled from 9 am to 2 pm for primary schools, 9 am to 3 pm for middle schools and 9 am to 3:30 pm for secondary and higher secondary schools.

The school timing is binding on all government schools, deficit and government aided and private schools, the notification said.

School authorities were asked to obtain previous sanction with proper jurisdiction from the concerned District Education Officer (DEO) or director of school education if they wishes to deviate from the government notified school timing by starting the school hour at 8.30 am.

The notification was issued in pursuance of the minutes of the meeting of council of ministers held on February 12.

Earlier, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), an influential students’ organisation of the state, had opposed the government’s decision to introduce new school timing, citing school hours should be started early to save daylights.

The students’ body had also demanded separate time zone for northeast as several daylight hours are wasted because government offices and schools opens and ends lately.

Speaking to EastMojo, MZP president L Ramdinlian said they are not totally opposed to the new timing as it gave freedom to all schools to start their school hour earlier than the proposed new timing provided prior permission is taken from concerned DEO.

Meanwhile, Mizo Students’ Union (MSU), the second largest student body in the state, has strongly welcomed the new timing citing it would immensely relieve both students and parents alike.

A statement issued by the student body said that change in school timing based on the National Curriculum Framework was its long standing demand.

The students’ body stand is that students should not be used for social experiment to ease traffic jam in the state capital.