Mixed feelings over the long short school holiday

Mixed feelings over the long short school holiday
Some students feel it will be a torture to return to school in early February

The education ministry’s decision to shorten the winter vacation and extend the summer holiday by two weeks is received with mixed feelings both by parents and students.
The recently concluded education conference decided that schools will open from February 3 starting this year and have a month-long break in summer.
Students and parents outside the urban areas feel that the decision would leave them enough time to help their parents during the busy summer season. A housewife, Punam Subba from Samtse said that she has to work for more than a month with her husband in the 15 acres. Her two sons are studying at Punakha and they hardly come home. “I think it will be easy for us to get work done,” she said.
A farmer, Nado from Haa and resides in Thimphu said that 50 percent of the students are not farmers’ sons or daughters. “Senior students, above Class V could return early. It is too cold for the small children,” he said adding that many are just idling away time and getting into illegal activities.
A Punakha student said sometimes they took sick leave to help their parents. “The busy changla season will coincide with the long summer break. It will be a good opportunity help our parents,” he said. “The decision will help many students like me. In the urban areas, it could be different.”
Supporting his friend, another student said that during changla, even the little ones are expected to help by carrying lunch or looking after the house. “Our parents will be happy.”
Others feel that the returning to school in early February would be a torture for students.
Winter is not over, but teachers and students will have to report to their schools on February 1 and 3 respectively this year. A student, Sonam Dorji who is studying in Haa said that it is cruel for teachers and children to have to stand at the bus stop in cold. “It could be worse for boarding school.”
The problem of reporting schools in cold places like Haa is of student suffering from infections because of the cold. “I got skin diseases on my back, hand and feet because of the cold weather,” he said.
Schools in the highlands like Laya, Gasa and Merak and Sakteng have different reporting and closing times.
A class X graduate, Sonam Wangmo, 18, was taking advantage of the cold in Thimphu. She sells thupa (rice porridge) and momo (dumpling) on the street. “I will not be able to earn more money if I join school earlier,” she said. She added that she should look for new idea for this summer.
Another student, Karma Wangten, of Gomtu middle secondary school said that his opportunity to earn some money during winter is lost with the decision. “I make enough to go back to school loading oranges during my winter break,” he said. “With the holiday shortened, the opportunity is gone.”
None of the schools provide heating facility in the classrooms while we have to follow driglam namzha strictly, according to a Thimphu student. “Will the schools provide heaters. It snows in February,” she said.
A teacher, refusing his reveal his name said that it is good to pre-pone the reporting date for students and teachers, in order to prepare for His Royal Highness the Gyalsey’s birth anniversary. “We could still review the morning and evening timing for both students and teachers if it is too cold in early February.”