Dear Editor,
I strongly believe that the Ministry of Education should seriously consider extending the length of the school day. Such a move will ensure that the curriculum is adequately covered and would ensure that the teachers do in school what they would have otherwise done during their after-school classes.
Having longer school hours would be welcomed by parents in all the levels because there are very many teachers who do little in the regular school hours thus, forcing children to attend lessons. Especially at the primary and to some extent at the nursery levels, parents will be less burdened by having to pay for lessons after school.
I suggest that the secondary schools dismiss classes one-and-a-half hours after the regular dismissal time, while the primary schools should go one hour later as should the nursery schools.
It is time the relevant authorities realized that the academic landscape is saturated with the craving for learning after the regular school time, all because the school time of five hours has become inadequate. Hence, the extended learning time offered free by the state is a crying need.
We are all aware that a large percentage of our teachers would rush home after school to manage their own school. The state loses, parents lose, the teachers benefit. The students will benefit tremendously and parents will not be so burdened.
Quite a few private schools are setting the pace in this direction. It is time that the state face up to the challenges.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
