Reworking of school timings: School managements, traffic police, parents prefer status quo, Minister Bangarappa calls meet today

Rithu Dravid | NT

Bengaluru: With stakeholders like school managements, the traffic police and parents of students collectively rejecting the proposal to alter school timings, Madhu Bangarappa, Minister for School Education and Literacy has decided to call a for a meeting of experts on Wednesday to further discuss the issue.

The revision of school timings was recommended recently to address the deteriorating traffic situation in Bengaluru city with choc-a-bloc traffic witnessed during the morning peak hours.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit had made suggestions and recommended that the State Government consider the possibility of revising the timings of educational institutions and corporate businesses.

Subsequently, the Department of School Education and Literacy held a meeting with various stakeholders on Monday to further discuss the reworking of school timings in Bengaluru Urban district at which the proposal came up against stiff opposition.

Minister Madhu Bangarappa told News Trail that the main reasons for rejecting the revision of school timing will be elaborately discussed with the experts.

“I respect the collective decision by the school managements, parents’ organisations, traffic police, and officials from transport, BMTC and teachers’ associations. However, by Tuesday evening we will get a broader perspective on the decision”.

Most of the stakeholders who were against the proposal, felt the Central Business Zones (CBZs) identified by the traffic police can be regulated locally instead of changing timings.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) MN Anucheth who was present at the meeting, was in favour of retaining the present school timings.

He said, “Reworking on certain Central Business District (CBD) schools which are prone to traffic congestion due to the entry and exit pick up and drop off points, can be done. Such traffic jams at these junctions cause restricted vehicular movement for people passing through these roads.'' At

present, gover nment schools start around 9:30 am whereas private schools start at 8 am or between 8:30 am and 8:45 am. The peak timings would be 8 am to 11am and 4 pm to 9 pm.

The Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka general secretary D Shashi Kumar said, “The government has asked for 8 weeks' time for further planning on ideas to decongest traffic at hotspots. We have not accepted revising school timings but instead suggested having extra home guards at school zones, parent volunteers, traffic awareness campaigns, school bus pooling, traffic wardens etc.”