Panaji: The directorate of education has issued a circular to all heads of government as well as aided schools directing that teachers should not prescribe any homework for students of class I and class II. “However class work could be given for the evaluation of students, studying in these classes,” it adds.

The circular issued by the director of education Vandana Rao on June 25 as regards the elementary/ primary education, further states that the weight of the school bag should be reduced appropriately as per the age of the students.

The circular quoting the guidelines given by the Madras High Court, in response to a writ petition, further points out that the books prescribed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), by adopting National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) curriculum, are strictly to be followed in Goa.

“No other additional textbooks are to be prescribed without the permission of SCERT/ directorate of education,” the circular directs, while giving a list of such books for primary classes. 

It also maintains that the Assistant District Educational Inspectors (ADEIs) and zonal officers should make surprise visits/ periodic checks in this regards and send the quarterly report to the director of education.

Meanwhile, the directorate of education has also issued another circular informing about a scheme notified through the department of science and technology and called ‘Scheme to provide grant-in-aid for students of high school and higher secondary schools in the state of Goa’.

The scheme provides annual financial  assistance in the form of grant-in-aid to students of high schools and higher secondary schools to facilitate them to attend science seminar, workshop and awareness programmes in India, with a condition that every team visiting these events shall include at least 40 per cent members from ST community.