School students protest against 'long school hours', seek 'justice'

Hyderabad, PTI: A group of students from a private school in Hyderabad held demonstrations on their campus against what they termed as "long school hours".

The students, who held a sit-in protest on Saturday, accused the school authorities of running classes from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm and raised "we want justice" slogan.

"Our classes are held from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm while in other schools, the classes are conducted from 8 am to 4.30 pm. After school hours, we again go to tuitions and there is homework too," a student is seen saying in a video circulated in the media.

"By the time we go to sleep it is around 10.30 pm and the next morning we have to get up at 5.30 am to attend school at 6.30 am. We are deprived of sleep...parents also need to understand," the student said.

Asked about their demands, other protesting students said they wanted an immediate change in timings.

City-based child rights NGO 'Balala Hakkula Sangham' accused the school management of subjecting the children to stress.

The NGO's honorary president Achyuta Rao alleged that the school authorities are violating all the norms and are giving heavy homework to students.

"The students told us that they are hardly getting any sleep after studying 13 to 14 hours and again their parents are sending them to tuitions," Rao said.

He further said they have brought the matter to the notice of Ranga Reddy district collector, seeking action against the school for "violating the norms".

Meanwhile, a school official refuted the allegations and said they conduct classes from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm and the students are given 30 minutes break in between.

The official also said that students are asked to finish their homework during school timings.