TOI report prompts municipal department to trim Summer Classes in Andhra Pradesh

AMARAVATI: Following the instructions of chief secretary LV Subramanyam, municipal administration department has revised the schedule of summer special classes for SSC students. As per the latest schedule, the classes will be closed by 9am instead of 12noon. Taking a serious note of a report appeared in TOI, chief secretary LV Subramanyam called for explanation from the director of municipal administration, K Kannababu.

Although, Kannababu tried to defend the conduct of special classes, chief secretary had advised him not to prolong the classes beyond 9am keeping in view of the prevailing heatwaves in the state. “Your intent might be good to make the students from under-privileged sections better prepared. But it is not correct to conduct the classes till 12noon particularly when the state is reeling under severe heatwaves,” chief secretary directed.

Interestingly, DMA decided to cut down the special classes session by an hour just before chief secretary summoning him for the details of the issue. The special officer who is coordinating the summer classes issued a circular on Saturday asking HMs and municipal commissioners to conclude the special classes by 10.30 and conduct a test for half-an hour to end the session at 11am.

Sources said that CS on Saturday sought a report from DMA after going through a report published in TOI. CS believed to have turned down the arguments of the DMA and asked him not to extend the classes beyond 9am. Subsequently, DMA directed the HMs and Jnanadhara coordinators to conduct the special classes from 6am-9am.

Municipal Teachers Federation (MTF) state president S Ramakrishna thanked the chief secretary LV Subramanyam for saving the lives of children and teachers.