Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 15: In a significant shift, the Goa government has announced that the upcoming Academic Year 2025-26 will commence on April 7 instead of April 1, introducing a one-week break between the end of the current term and the start of the new session.

As per the newly drafted rules under the Goa School Education Act, 1984, the academic schedule will see major restructuring. For students in Classes VI to X and Class XII, the academic year will run from April to March. Meanwhile, students in Classes I to V and Class XI will follow a different cycle, starting in June and concluding in April.

The draft rules specify, “There shall be a break of one week between the end of the academic year and the beginning of the new academic year for this category.” The government has invited public feedback on these proposed changes.

The current academic year (2024-25) is set to conclude on March 30, and the new structure aims to bring Goa’s state board schools in line with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) calendar, where the session runs from April to March 31.

Additionally, the Director of Education will have the authority to divide the academic year into suitable terms. The proposal includes a summer vacation for all classes starting from May 1, lasting five weeks or as determined by the Director of Education.

Other significant breaks include a three-week vacation in October or November to align with Diwali celebrations, a one-week break for Ganesh Chaturthi, and the annual Christmas vacation from December 24 to January 2. The rules clarify that any lost instructional days due to breaks will be compensated by adjusting discretionary holidays.

Recognizing Goa’s intense summer heat, the government has also planned to limit class hours in April, with sessions concluding by 11:30 AM.

This transition, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), is expected to streamline curriculum completion and enhance the overall academic structure in the state.